Written Answers Toquestions
Wednesday 14 November 1990
Attorney-General
Deaf People
To ask the Attorney-General what facilities are made available in the courts at all levels for people who are deaf or hard of hearing.
In the magistrates courts, it is for the court to ensure that it can communicate adequately with deaf persons appearing before it. Where a defendant who is deaf or hard of hearing does not himself arrange for the services of an interpreter, magistrates courts make use of interpreters provided through the agency of local directors of social services and voluntary bodies such as the Royal National Institute for the Deaf.In the Crown court, and in the civil courts, interpreters must be provided by the parties. Court staff will always advise parties where a list of interpreters may be obtained. In Crown court cases fees for interpreters are paid from central funds. In civil cases the payment of fees is a matter for the parties.Provided that court staff are given sufficient warning of the needs of a party or a witness who is hard of hearing, arrangements can generally be made to ensure that that person will be able to sit as close as possible to, and with an unobstructed view of, the judge and the witness box.Many of the purpose-built courtrooms have excellent acoustics and many are equipped with microphone and public address systems which may be used to enhance the ability of the hard of hearing to follow proceedings.
Attendance Allowance Appeals
To ask the Attorney-General what was the average waiting time from an appeal being made against an attendance allowance decision and the appeal decision, for the last period for which figures are available.
The office of the social security commissioners does not record information on the average waiting times for appeals in relation to individual categories of benefit or appeal.
Prime Minister
Ethnic Minorities
To ask the Prime Minister if she will list those provisions in legislation which give local authorities powers in relation to a single ethnic minority group.
There are no such specific provisions in legislation, although section 71 of the Race Relations Act 1976 places a duty on local authorities to ensure that they carry out their various functions with due regard to the need to eliminate unlawful racial discrimination and promote racial equality, and section 35 of that Act recognises that it is sometimes necessary to meet the special needs of racial groups regarding their education, training or welfare.
Defence
Radar
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether there has been any change in the financial arrangements for the relocatable over-the-horizon radar.
No.
Raf Bentwaters/Woodbridge
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the reason for building new housing for United States personnel at RAF Bentwaters/Woodbridge.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Carlisle (Mr. Martlew) on 1 November, at column 770.
Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs
Gulf Crisis
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs at what time and day his Department learnt of the invasion of Kuwait by Iraqi forces, in Greenwich mean time and Kuwait local time; and at what time British Airways was informed.
It was not until approximately 0300 GMT (0600 Kuwait local time) on 2 August that we had clear evidence of a full-scale Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. This was approximately one hour after the closure of Kuwait airport. The news became public at about 0400 GMT (0700 Kuwait time).
Foreign Affairs Council
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish in the Official Report a statement on the outcome of the Foreign Affairs Council on 12 November.
The Foreign Affairs Council met in Brussels on 12 November. My hon. Friend the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office represented the United Kingdom.Ministers discussed the Iraq-Kuwait crisis and reaffirmed their determination to bring about the release of all hostages in Iraq and Kuwait, the refusal of their Governments to negotiate with Iraq and their condemnation of Iraqi treatment of hostages. They agreed to give the highest priority to the role of the United Nations and to continue to put pressure on Iraq to receive the Secretary-General's special representative. They agreed a United Kingdom proposal to make demarches to a large number of countries and groups of countries to convince them to pursue these same aims in contacts with the Iraqis.The Council discussed the proposed EC/United States and EC/Canada declarations and asked the Commission and presidency to continue to work with the Americans and Canadians to achieve agreed texts to be exchanged in the margins of the Paris CSCE summit.
The Council had an initial discussion of the draft negotiating mandates for association agreements with Poland, Hungary and Czechoslovakia. The United Kingdom looks forward to early detailed examination of the mandates with a view to their approval this year.
The Council reviewed policy towards Asia and Latin America and noted that the programme for the 1990s would be considered by a special Development Council later in the year. The Council discussed again the Commission's proposals for a new Mediterranean policy which were remitted for further detailed work. Finally, the Council discussed progress in the Community's negotiations with EFTA for the creation of a European economic area. The United Kingdom called for renewed EC efforts to maintain the momentum of the negotiations through a constructive approach to outstanding issues.
In the margins of the Council, Ministers held an informal meeting with Foreign Ministers of the Arab Maghreb Union. The meeting discussed a wide range of political and economic topics of mutual interest including the development of EC/AMU relations and the Gulf crisis. On behalf of the Twelve the EC presidency urged the AMU to join in exerting pressure on Iraq to accept the UN Secretary-General's envoy and to release all hostages.
Transport
Greater Manchester Relief Road
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many letters his Department has received from residents of Worsley, Whitefield, Radcliffe and Bury about the proposed Greater Manchester western and northern relief road; and how many of those supported the proposals as outlined in the White Paper "Roads for Prosperity".
Several letters have been received but none has been in support of the outline proposed in the White Paper. Full public consultation will take place after details of a route have been published.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will arrange for an environmental impact assessment to be carried out in respect of the Greater Manchester western and northern relief road route.
An environmental assesment will be undertaken before proposals are put forward for public comment.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the implications of the construction of the Denton to Middleton section of the M66 for the Greater Manchester western and northern relief road.
Completion of the M66 between Denton and Middleton will have no significant effect on traffic flows on the M62 west of junction 18. There are no implications for the Greater Manchester western and northern relief road.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has revised the traffic forecasts for the Greater Manchester western and northern relief route.
We have not yet prepared detailed local traffic forecasts for this scheme.
Lancaster Avenue—Thurlow Park Road Junction
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to improve the junction between Lancaster avenue and Thurlow Park road, London SE27.
The Department has no current proposals to improve the A205 south circular road at the junction of Thurlow Park road and Lancaster avenue. The London borough of Lambeth, as the Department's agents for this part of the trunk road, was asked in March 1988 to investigate the feasibility of improving traffic movement and safety at this junction. Its report is still awaited.The Secretary of State recently decided to terminate the agency agreement with Lambeth with effect from 1 April 1991, and to appoint consultants instead. We shall ask the consultants to look into possible improvements to this junction.
Municipal Airports
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what contributions have been made, net, from the charge fund to the running of municipal airports at Manchester, Birmingham, Luton and East Midlands; and if he will make a statement.
No such contributions have been made.
Lorries
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list all defects and contraventions discovered by checks carried out by his Department, the Health and Safety Executive and the police to assess on-the-road compliance with regulations for the mechanical safety and roadworthiness of lorries during the past three years.
Information on mechanical defects found at annual tests of heavy goods vehicles is given on page 19 of the vehicle inspectorate executive agency's annual report for 1989–90, and details of vehicles inspected at roadside spot checks with prohibition rates are given on page 22. Copies of the report are in the Library.
A27
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to announce detailed possible routes for the proposed dual carriageway between Lewes and Polegate on the A27; and if he will make a statement.
I hope that there will be public consultation on possible routes for the proposed A27 Lewes to Polegate improvement in late 1991. The timetable thereafter will depend on the issues that the consultation raises, the progress that can be made with the design of the chosen option and the statutory procedures.
Underground Escalators
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has as to London Underground's policy towards easing access to the underground by the disabled, elderly or those with young children when escalators are out of action for considerable periods; and if he will make a statement.
During periods when escalators are unavailable, London Underground Ltd. attempts to ease access for all its customers. It does so by providing alternative routes through stations, wherever possible, and by the use of temporary signs and announcements on stations and trains. In addition, uniformed staff, trained to take care of travellers with special needs, are at hand. Details of how people with mobility handicaps can plan the best routes to avoid escalators are set out in London Transport's publication "Access to the Underground", a copy of which is in the Library.
Fuels (Pollution)
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will discuss with the oil companies the development of less-polluting fuels for vehicles.
My Department and the Department of Energy are in frequent contact with the motor and the oil industries on this subject.
Vehicle Pollution
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what new measures he plans to reduce pollution caused by motor cars and lorries.
I have little to add to my hon. Friend's answer to the hon. Member for Newport, West on 30 October, columns 464–66. The Government are doing everything they can to achieve the earliest possible agreement within the European Community on a new, consolidated directive to reduce car emissions. We shall also urge the Community to adopt tighter noise limits for all vehicles when this matter is discussed next year.
Air Accidents
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the air accidents investigation branch of his Department proposes to make any recommendations to the Civil Aviation Authority to help it determine further action as a result of the reports of the crashes of two light aircraft on the Coal Aston airstrip, Derbyshire, published in the air accidents investigation branch bulletin 11/90.
I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave him on Thursday 1 November, Vol. 178, column 707.
The Minches
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if his Department will declare the Minches an area to be avoided; and if he will make a statement.
Her Majesty's Government took the lead in establishing the internationally recognised deep water route to the west of the outer Hebrides. This is clearly marked on charts, with a recommendation that laden tankers of over 10,000 gross registered tonnage should use it instead of the Minch when weather conditions permit.It is important that tanker masters retain the freedom to use the Minch in poor weather. The outer route in the Atlantic is subject to much stronger winds and rougher seas than the sheltered waters of the Minch, and greater stresses are thus imposed on both vessels and crew. These stresses slightly increase the chances of an equipment failure. More significantly, the weather conditions and the remoteness of the outer route mean that in the event of failure, the chances of preventing the vessel from going ashore are lessened. In poor weather, therefore, the chances of both loss of life and pollution may be greater if the vessels use the outer route than if they go through the Minch.In these circumstances the Government's role must be to ensure maximum use of the outer route in appropriate conditions. An "area to be avoided" is recommendatory and the Government are not convinced that establishing one in the Minch would have any greater effect than the existing recommendatory deep water route. An alternative sometimes suggested is a mandatory traffic separation scheme in the Minch. The problem with this is that it might encourage tankers to take the route through the Minch. It would also inhibit fishing vessels, which would be obliged to comply with its provisions.The Government consider that the best course is to continue to urge the use of the outer route in appropriate conditions, internationally through the International Maritime Organisation, nationally by contact with the oil companies and locally by means of notices to mariners issued at Sullom Voe.
East London River Crossing
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the public inquiry into the east London river crossing to be concluded.
[holding answer 13 November 1990]: The conduct of the inquiry and the timing of its closure are matters for the inspectors of the joint inquiries, but I understand that there is a full programme arranged until the Christmas recess.
Home Department
Refugee Children
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the Refugee Council's proposals to provide reception and assessment services to unaccompanied refugee children.
No. The Refugee Council's proposals to provide reception and assessment services to unaccompanied refugee children were sent to the Minister for Health and my right hon. and learned Friend. They make a useful contribution to consideration of the issues in this complex area and are being considered by both Departments. I intend to respond to the Refugee Council. on behalf of both Departments, as soon as possible.
Electoral Registration
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance he has issued to electoral registration officers regarding the removal of electors from the register; what degree of discretion electoral registration officers have in applying Home Office guidelines; whether electoral registration officers seek advice from local authorities; for what purposes electoral registration officers may use the community charge register; and what statutory duties local authorities have with regard to canvassing potential electors for inclusion in the electoral register.
In a circular issued on 10 August 1990 as part of its guidance to electoral registration officers (EROs) in England and Wales, the Home Office made recommendations about the use of information on the community charge register in compiling the electoral register. This included that a person's name should not be carried forward from one electoral register to the next if that person does not respond to the electoral canvass and his or her name does not appear on the community charges register. It also recommended that where such a name does appear in the community charges register it should not be carried forward for more than one year without further inquiries to establish eligibility.Electoral registration officers are responsible to the courts in the performance of their statutory duties and are not obliged to follow Home Office guidance. They are appointed, in England and Wales, by district or London borough councils and are free to seek advice, including legal advice, from the local authority by which they were appointed, or its officers, if they so wish.Under section 29 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988, EROs in England and Wales may, for the purpose of exercising their functions, inspect the community charges register of any charging authority. The purpose of the Home Office guidance issued on 10 August was to enable and encourage EoOs to make the fullest and most effective use of this right of access, to assist in the preparation of an accurate electoral register.Electoral registration officers have a statutory duty to prepare and publish each year registers of electors for the
North Yorkshire | South Yorkshire | West Yorkshire | Humberside | |||||
(a) | (b) | (a) | (b) | (a) | (b) | (a) | (b) | |
1987–88 | 10 | 4 | 12 | 3 | 11 | 3 | 10 | 6 |
1988–89 | 10 | 4 | 12 | 3 | 12 | 3 | 10 | 6 |
1989–90 | 10 | 4 | 12 | 3 | 13 | 3 | 10 | 6 |
1990–911 | 10 | 4 | 12 | 4 | 14 | 3 | 10 | 6 |
1Estimated. |
South Yorkshire Police (Dedicated Suites)
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list by location for the South Yorkshire police force those that have (a) dedicated rape suites, (b) dedicated domestic violence units and (c) dedicated child abuse (i) units and (ii) suites.
Dedicated rape suites are situated at Phoenix house, Doncaster, Barnsley district general hospital, and the sexual offences and child investigation unit at Wath.There are no dedicated domestic violence units in the force area, but consideration is currently being given to incorporating the work of such units in the facilities which are already provided for the reception and interviewing of victims of sexual offences.Child abuse units have been established at police divisional headquarters at Heeley and the Old Police house at Wath; there are child abuse suites at Phoenix house, Doncaster, the sexual offences and child abuse investigation unit at Wath, and the Children's hospital at Sheffield.
area for which they are responsible. To this end, they are required to have a house-to-house or other sufficient inquiry made as to the persons entitled to be registered.
Emergency Planning
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list by location for the three counties Yorkshire and Humberside, and by year for the last four years to date, the local authorities that have developed emergency control centres; and how many (a) emergency planning officers and (b) clerical support staff for emergency planning officers have been employed.
The following emergency centres have been established to meet minimum recommended Home Office standards over the past four years:
County | Emergency Centre | Year |
North Yorkshire | Craven | 1989–90 |
North Yorkshire | Richmond | 1987–88 |
North Yorkshire | Scarborough | 1988–89 |
West Yorkshire | County Standby (located in Calderdale) | 1990–91 |
West Yorkshire | Calderdale | 1990–91 |
Humberside | County Standby (co-located with Great Grimsby) | 1989–90 |
Humberside | Beverley | 1987–88 |
Humberside | Cleethorpes | 1987–88 |
Humberside | East Yorkshire | 1989–90 |
(a) emergency planning officers and (b) clerical support staff employed over the last four years are:
Horserace Totalisator Board
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the chairman of the Horserace Totalisator Board was appointed; and when his appointment will terminate.
The chairman of the Horserace Totalisator Board, Lord Wyatt of Weeford, has been chairman of the Tote since I May 1976. His present term of appointment runs to 30 April 1991.
Remand Prisoners
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of remand prisoners being held in prisons in England and Wales on 1 January and 1 November.
At the end of December 1989, 9,485 untried and convicted unsentenced prisoners were held in prison service establishments in England and Wales and none in police cells. The corresponding figures for the end of September 1990, the latest date for which the information is available, were 9,377 in prison service establishments and 768 in police cells.
Belmarsh Prison
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women prison officers will be employed at Belmarsh prison.
Individual prison officers have not yet been allocated to Belmarsh in significant numbers. It is therefore not known how many female officers will work there.
Police Cells
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide figures for each month, from May onwards, for the number of remand prisoners and newly sentenced prisoners being held in police cells in the three counties of Yorkshire and Humberside police authority areas who would normally have been housed in Her Majesty's prison establishments; and if he will show in his answer by month (a) the location of the police cells, (b) their sex and (c) the number of prisoners they have had under their care.
The average number of prisoners. who have been held in police cells in the Humberside and Yorkshire police authority areas each month since May 1990, are given in the table. All the prisoners are male.
Number | |
May | 203 |
June | 247 |
July | 204 |
August | 219 |
September | 345 |
October | 295 |
November | 1291 |
1Average to date. |
Police cells | Number of prisoners |
Humberside | |
Beverley | 12 |
Grimsby | 32 |
Hull | 37 |
Scunthorpe | 9 |
North Yorkshire | |
Clifford street, York | 9 |
Northallerton | 9 |
Richmond | 9 |
South Kirkby | 6 |
York | 3 |
South Yorkshire | |
Barnsley | 5 |
Doncaster | 29 |
Eccleshill | 17 |
Rotherham | 11 |
Sheffield | 20 |
West Yorkshire | |
Bingley | 3 |
Brighouse | 4 |
Dewsbury | 5 |
Halifax | 10 |
Holmfirth | 4 |
Huddersfield-Bridewell | 14 |
Keighley | 6 |
Leeds-Bridewell | 6 |
Police cells
| Number of prisoners
|
Millgarth | 8 |
Morley | 7 |
Shipley | 4 |
Weetwood | 8 |
Wetherby | 6 |
Wood street, Wakefield | 10 |
This information is not collected in a way that enables remand and newly sentenced prisoners to be readily identified separately. Details of the police stations in use for the whole of the period in question could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Women Prison Officers
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of women prison officers working in male prisons in England and Wales on 1 November.
On 1 November, 441 women prison officers were working in male prisons in England and Wales.
Deaf People
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidelines are issued to probation officers to ensure that the needs of deaf people or those who are hard of hearing are taken into account when reports are being prepared for the courts prior to sentencing.
Current guidance to the probation service on social inquiry reports (SIRs) is contained in Home Office circular 92 of 1986, a copy of which is in the Library. This circular emphasises the need for the SIR to contain an impartial and objective assessment tailored to the circumstances of the individual offender. The offender's deafness or other hearing impairment would be referred to in the SIR if the officer considered that it was relevant to the court's decision on how to deal with that offender. If the hon. Member has a particular case in mind perhaps he would write to me.
Correspondence
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to reply to the letter to him dated 27 September from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mrs. Bibi, 95 Boreford road, Manchester.
This case has involved making inquiries abroad, which have now been completed. I hope to reply shortly.
Energy
Electricity Privatisation
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) why page 149 of the electricity privatisation pathfinder prospectus makes no reference to Labour party commitments on insulation, energy conservation or the establishment of the Renewable Energy Agency;
(2) why page 149 of the electricity privatisation pathfinder prospectus made no mention of the need for long-term contracts to promote the use of renewable energy services covered on page 24 of the Labour party document "An Earthly Chance".
As is stated, pages 148 and 149 of the pathfinder prospectus provide only a summary of those Labour party policies which Her Majesty's Government believe are of particular relevance to the flotation of the regional electricity companies.
Energy Council
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the outcome of the European Community's Council of Energy Ministers on 29 October.
The Council took further steps to liberalise the Community's energy market. The directive on the transit of electricity, on which political agreement had been reached at the previous Energy Council earlier this year, was adopted. A broad agreement was reached by qualified majority on the parallel directive on gas transit, opening the way for a common position at a later date. Although the directives do not. go far towards liberalising the Community's energy markets, the United Kingdom has supported them as a step in that direction. The Council also agreed, subject to the opinion of the European Parliament, to the repeal of the 1975 directive controlling the use of gas in generating electricity. The United Kingdom has long sought the repeal of that outdated measure.The Council also discussed the current oil situation and concluded that world market supplies were adequate and that member states' stocks were high. It also agreed that the Commission's proposals to update existing contingency measures needed further study.The Commission introduced the proposed SAVE programme (specific actions for vigorous energy efficiency) which is intended to co-ordinate member states' own
Table 2 | |||||||
NHS Land and Property Sales—Receipts | |||||||
£s rounded to nearest '000 | |||||||
1983–84 | 1984–85 | 1985–86 | 1986–87 | 1987–88 | 1988–89 | 1989–90 | |
Clwyd | |||||||
Cash Prices | 341 | 119 | 95 | 383 | Nil | 63 | 44 |
Constant Prices | 471 | 157 | 119 | 463 | Sales | 67 | 44 |
East Dyfed | |||||||
Cash Prices | Nil | Nil | 286 | 78 | 295 | 90 | 35 |
Constant Prices | Sales | Sales | 357 | 94 | 339 | 96 | 35 |
Gwent | |||||||
Cash Prices | 223 | 108 | 209 | 108 | 67 | 323 | 141 |
Constant Prices | 308 | 142 | 261 | 131 | 77 | 346 | 141 |
Gwynedd | |||||||
Cash Prices | 26 | 31 | 16 | 1,031 | Nil | 49 | 918 |
Constant Prices | 36 | 41 | 20 | 1,246 | Sales | 52 | 918 |
Mid Glamorgan | |||||||
Cash Prices | 119 | 156 | 672 | 737 | 663 | 145 | 532 |
Constant Prices | 164 | 205 | 839 | 891 | 761 | 155 | 532 |
Pembroke | |||||||
Cash Prices | 2 | 25 | Nil | Nil | 43 | 250 | 144 |
Constant Prices | 3 | 33 | Sales | Sales | 49 | 268 | 144 |
Powys | |||||||
Cash Prices | 58 | 43 | 237 | 57 | 53 | 438 | 66 |
Constant Prices | 80 | 57 | 296 | 69 | 61 | 469 | 66 |
South Glamorgan | |||||||
Cash Prices | 18 | 476 | 60 | 67 | 429 | 165 | Nil |
Constant Prices | 25 | 627 | 75 | 81 | 492 | 177 | Sales |
West Glamorgan |
energy efficiency programmes. The Council welcomed the initiative which is intended among other things to lead to action on energy efficiency labelling and minimum standards for electrical appliances. The initiative emphasises the need for market-based measures.
There was also on 29 October a joint Energy/ Environment Council. I refer my hon. Friend to the written reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Swindon (Mr. Coombs) by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment on 31 October 1990, Official Report, columns 540–42.
Wales
Nhs Surplus Land And Property
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the value of sales of surplus national health service land and properties in total and by health authority for each financial year since 1979 in (a) cash prices and (b) constant prices.
The information requested for the years 1983–84 to 1989–90 is shown in table 2. Cash prices are shown for all years and constant prices are revaluations at 1989–90 price levels.Details relating to land and property sales between 1979–80 and 1982–83 by health authority are not available. Total figures for this period were:
Table 1 | ||
Cash prices | Constant prices (at 1989–90 price levels) | |
£ | £ | |
1979–80 | 200,000 | 403,000 |
1980–81 | 700,000 | 1,192,000 |
1981–82 | 200,000 | 310,000 |
1982–83 | 1,400,000 | 2,025,000 |
1983–84
| 1984–85
| 1985–86
| 1986–87
| 1987–88
| 1988–89
| 1989–90
| |
Cash Prices | Nil | 389 | 40 | 230 | 121 | 268 | 3,594 |
Constant Prices | Sales | 512 | 50 | 278 | 139 | 287 | 3,594 |
Total | |||||||
Cash Prices | 787 | 1,347 | 1,615 | 2,691 | 1,671 | 1,790 | 5,475 |
Constant Prices | 1,087 | 1,774 | 2,017 | 3,253 | 1,918 | 1,917 | 5,475 |
Ministerial Advisers
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will state the terms of reference of the appointment of the special adviser, Mr. Rod Richards, in the Welsh Office, indicating whether this appointment is for a fixed term or is a permanent appointment.
Mr. Rod Richards has been appointed personally by me to advise on subjects that I will specify and for as long as I consider necessary.
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will set out the salary, hours, terms and conditions of the appointment of Mr. Rod Richards as his personal adviser and the period for which the appointment wile, run;(2) if he will list all his personal advisers who are paid for from public funds with the total annual cost of each adviser and the topics upon which each is called to advise him.
I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave him on Tuesday 13 November, column 106.
Overseas Development
Aid And Trade
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether there are departmental guidelines regarding the ratio of aid and trade provision grants to the total cost of the aid and trade provision supported contract.
Grants from the aid and trade provision are made in accordance with OECD consensus rules and thus currently cover a minimum of 50 per cent. of the United Kingdom content of the contract for least-developed countries and a minimum of 35 per cent. of the United Kingdom content of the contract for other developing countries.
Turkey
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list all aid to Turkey since 1979 under (a) country programme aid, (b) aid and trade provision, (c) multilateral aid and (d) other aid, respectively.
Details available of British aid given to Turkey since 1979 are as follows:
£'000 | ||||
Country programme aid | ATP | Multilateral aid attributable to United Kingdom | Other | |
1979 | 4,198 | — | n/a | 54 |
1980 | 8,019 | — | 960 | 16 |
1981 | 32,105 | — | 3,670 | 4 |
Country programme aid
| ATP
| Multilateral aid attributable to United Kingdom
| Other
| |
1982 | 16,872 | — | 3,220 | 10 |
1983 | 5,302 | — | 6,220 | 96 |
1984 | 375 | — | 6,960 | 32 |
1985 | 10,253 | — | 3,010 | 27 |
1986 | 4,627 | — | 13,850 | 23 |
1987 | 2,462 | 559 | 5,160 | 20 |
1988 | 1,365 | 1,044 | 2,920 | 51 |
1989 | 714 | 2,384 | n/a | 591 |
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what is the purpose of the natural gas conversion project in Turkey;(2) what arrangements were made by his Department for seeking tenders for the natural gas conversion project in Turkey;(3) when aid was offered for the natural gas conversion project in Turkey; whether aid has been disbursed; and if he will make a statement.
The main objective of the project is to convert Ankara's gas distribution system to natural gas and to improve and extend the system. The conversion to natural gas will assist the eradication of severe atmospheric problems caused by the present use of oil, coal and lignite as domestic fuels. The contract with the Ankara electricity, gas and omnibus authority was awarded after international competitive tender. The offer of aid to the Turkish Government to support a long-term concessional loan was made on 9 March 1987. Disbursements to date total £3,426,481 and represent payments in respect of interest due on the loan which is funding 85 per cent. of the cost of British goods and services.
Southern Africa
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what percentage of aid to southern Africa is tied to the purchase of British goods; what percentage is for local costs; whether there are any procurement conditions which encourage procurement from countries other than the recipient within the southern Africa region; and if he will make a statement.
In 1988, the last year for which we have figures, the proportion of our bilateral aid to southern Africa, defined as the present membership of the Southern African Development Co-ordination Conference (SADCC) plus South Africa, tied to the purchase of British goods was 76 per cent., and the proportion for local costs was 2 per cent. Proportions vary from year to year and from country to country.However, Britain announced in September this year that procurement under British financial aid to countries listed by the United Nations as least developed would in future be opened up to producers in all developing countries with a GNP per capita of up to US $1,135 in 1989. In southern Africa the least-developed countries are Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania. Of the countries in the region, only Botswana, the Republic of South Africa and Namibia, for which we have no data, are thought to have had a GNP per capita of more than US $1,135 in 1989.
National Finance
Incomes
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the same figures as those provided in his answer of 29 October, Official Report, columns 363–64(a) exclusive of privatised investment and (b) deflated by the general deflator.
Figures, excluding privatised investment, are not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Regional deflators are not calculated and the CSO believes that the use of a
Shareholdings1 in privatised and former government-controlled companies | ||||||||
Size of share register | ||||||||
Company | Date of Privatisation | Initial | Highest since privatisation | Current | Proportion of shares initially retained by | Proportion and dates of subsequent HMG disposals | ||
Number | Date | Number | Date | HMG | ||||
British Aerospace | February 1981 | 157,829 | 120,200 | December 1986 | 97,600 | December 1989 | 48·43% | 48·43%/10 May 1985 |
Cable and Wireless | October 1981 | 27,320 | 210,994 | March 1986 | 166,179 | 31 March 1990 | 50·64% | 27·54%/November 1983: 23·1%/December 1985 |
Amersham International | February 1982 | 10,051 | 8,601 | June 1982 | 5,787 | June 1990 | Nil | |
Britoil | November 1982 | 37,257 | 241,000 | owned by BP | 49% | 49%/8 August 1985 | ||
Associated British Ports | February 1983 | 37,205 | 12,321 | Jule 1989 | 12,000 | 31 December 1989 | 48·5% | 48·5%/17 April 1984 |
Enterprise Oil | June 1984 | 13,695 | 14,166 | January 1985 | 10,207 | 31 December 1989 | Nil | |
Jaguar | July 1984 | 125,000 | 64,126 | November 1984 | owned by Ford | Nil | ||
British Telecom | November 1984 | 2,051,373 | 1,649,722 | November 1985 | 1,200,655 | 31 March 1990 | 49·8% | 0·8%/December 1987 |
British Gas | December 1986 | 4,407,079 | 3,100,000 | July 1987 | 2,480,564 | 30 April 1990 | 3·3% | 1·6%/January 1990: 1·6%/July 1990 |
British Airways | February 1987 | 1,200,000 | 450,000 | July 1987 | 314,039 | 15 May 1990 | 2·5% | 1%/June 1987: 1%/March 1990 |
Rolls Royce | May 1987 | 2,000,000 | 925,000 | December 1987 | 738,659 | 31 December 1989 | 0·4% | 0·4% sold during 1987 |
BAA | July 1987 | 2,187,500 | 1,350,000 | November 1987 | 798,643 | June 1990 | 4·36% | 1·42%/August 1990 |
British Steel | December 1988 | 650,000 | 400,000 | January 1989 | 318,025 | 23 August 1990 | 0·05% | 0·04% disposed of during 1989. On 12 November 1990 HMG held about 0·002% |
Water and Sewerage Companies | December 1989 | 2,650,0002 | N/A | l,318,3522 | June 1990 | 1·62% | ||
1 These figures are not an exact guide to the number of shareholders in each company because some holdings are held jointly in more than one name. They also include holdings in employee share schemes. | ||||||||
2 The offer allowed for holdings by individuals in any or all of the 10 companies and therefore holders may appear on more than one register. |
Trade And Industry
Discussions
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the Minister for Trade last met Mr. Henderson of Matrix-Churchill; what was discussed; and if he will make a statement.
As far as I am aware, I have never met Mr. Henderson.
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what were the topics discussed between the Minister for Trade and Mr. Bailey, of BSA Tools Ltd. and Automatia Investments Ltd., at their meeting on 19 October; and if he will make a statement.
deflator which applies to total United Kingdom investment may lead to misleading figures. It also believes that it would be inappropriate to apply the United Kingdom deflator to foreign investment.
Estimates of United Kingdom manufacturing investment at current and constant prices are given in tables 13.6 and 13.7 of the 1990 edition of the "United Kingdom National Accounts" (Blue Book) which is available in the Library.
Shareholders
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will update his answer to the hon. Member for Newham, North-West (Mr. Banks) Official Report, 18 November 1986, column 82, as to the number of individual shareholders retaining shares in each of the concerns privatised since 1979.
The table shows the number of shareholdings in each of the companies privatised since 1979. Where Her Majesty's Government retained a shareholding on privatisation this has also been shown.
I met Mr. Bailey and other representatives of the Machine Tool Trade Association on 24 October. It is not our practice to disclose the content of such private discussions.
Liberia
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many licences for the export of armoured vehicles, aircraft and other military equipment to Liberia were granted in 1989; what level of underwriting by the Export Credits Guarantee Department of the sale of such equipment was approved; and if he will make a statement.
[holding answer 12 November 1990]: Two individual export licences for military equipment were issued for Liberia in 1989.ECGD has been unable to identify any credit underwritten by the Department in 1989 in respect of the export of military equipment to Liberia.
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry under what guidelines the Export Credits Guarantee Department operated on the granting of cover for the former regime in Liberia; and if he will make a statement.
[holding answer 13 November 1990]: ECGD cover has been and remains available for exports to Liberia on short-term credit—up to 180 days—where payment is secured by irrevocable letters of credit from acceptable banks.No support for medium-term credit has been available since 1980 except for the sale of ships where payment is wholly secured from outside Liberia. No such ships business has, however, been undertaken during the past five years.
Exporters (Insurance)
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if his Department requires the Export Credits Guarantee Department to take environmental considerations into account when giving insurance cover to exporters.
[holding answer 13 November 1990]: The Export Credits Guarantee Department is seeking to establish appropriate means to take account of environmental considerations when giving insurance cover to exporters as required under the terms of the Montreal protocol.
Education And Science
Religious Education
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the standing advisory committees on religious education which have sent an annual report to the National Curriculum Council.
The Education Reform Act requires all standing advisory councils on religious education to publish an annual report of their work. My right hon. and learned Friend has said that he believes that copies of SACRE reports should be sent to local schools and teacher training institutions and to the National Curriculum Council, although there is no fixed timetable for doing so. We understand that the NCC has currently received 45 reports.
Nursery Education, Stockport
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the current provision for nursery education within the metropolitan borough of Stockport.
The current nursery provision in the metropolitan borough of Stockport is nine nursery schools and 16 nursery classes attached to infant or primary schools.
Teacher Training
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the intake to teacher training courses in England and Wales in 1989–90; and what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the numbers to provide for the needs of primary and secondary schools and institutions of further education in the years after 1993.
In 1989 over 21,700 students started approved courses leading to qualification to teach in schools in the maintained sector in England and Wales: 1,500 more than in 1988 and 2·5 per cent. above our target. The targets take account of our assessment of future demand for teachers in maintained primary and secondary schools. The Government do not control the intakes or the course content of training for teaching in further education institutions. My right hon. and learned Friend intends to publish shortly a document describing our projections of school teacher demand and supply, a copy of which will be placed in the Library.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has concerning the proportion of students graduating from teacher training institutions who do not enter the teaching profession.
Some 70 per cent. of newly qualified teachers enter teaching in maintained schools in England and Wales immediately after successfully completing their training. A further 10 per cent. enter after a year or more. Some of the other 20 per cent. will go into teaching in FE colleges, in independent schools or in other countries.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many students enrolled on teacher training courses (a) this year, (b) in 1989, and (c) in 1985.
Data on recruitment to teacher training courses in the current academic year are being collected and will be available shortly.The annual intakes to initial teacher training courses in 1989 and 1985 were as follows:
Total | BEd | PGCE | |
1989 | 21,757 | 10,812 | 10,945 |
1985 | 16,725 | 8,053 | 8,672 |
School Crossings
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what extra financial provision is made available to local education authorities to provide protection to school children, by supplying adequate traffic patrol and crossing services outside schools; and if he will make a statement.
Provision for local authority spending on school crossing patrols and road safety is not separately earmarked within annual local authority grant settlements, although it is taken into account in determining those settlements and their allocation between the relevant services for grant distribution purposes. It is then for each local authority to decide, within the overall resources available to it, what level of spending is appropriate in its circumstances to ensure adequate traffic patrol and crossing services.
Teacher Vacancies
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many unfilled teacher vacancies there were at the start of the present terms in (a) England and (b) Greater London; and if he will make a statement.
All 109 LEAs responded to the Department's survey of teacher vacancies at the start of this term. They reported 1,470 vacancies in England, of which 561 were in Greater London. Detailed results are in the Library. They show that LEAs worked very hard and with considerable success to fill over 23,500 vacancies during the summer.
A-Levels
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to make a statement on the future of the GCE A-level examination.
My right hon. and learned Friend will make a statement after he has received and considered the further advice which he requested from the School Examinations and Assessment Council, together with all other views expressed to him. He expects to receive this advice around the turn of the year.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received concerning this summer's GCE A-level examination results; and if he will make a statement.
My right hon. and learned Friend has received two letters. Representations about individual GCE examination results which cannot be resolved through the normal appeals mechanisms should be addressed to the independent appeals authority for school examinations (IAASE).
Gcse
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received concerning this summer's GCSE examination results; and if he will make a statement.
My right hon. and learned Friend and I have received five representations on this issue. We would expect inquiries about individual results which cannot be resolved through the appeals mechanisms of the examining groups to be addressed to the independent appeals authority for school examinations.
Teachers (Recruitment)
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has concerning the number of former teachers re-entering the profession; and if he will make a statement.
In 1987—the most recent year for which reliable data are available—some 16,200 former teachers returned to the profession; over half all entrants. The Government are supporting LEA expenditure of £12 million over two years, 1990–92, which will help authorities to maintain the recruitment of returners at a high level.
Numeracy
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received concerning the numeracy standards of school leavers; and if he will make a statement.
Ministers have received a small number of letters from individuals expressing concern about the numeracy standards of school leavers. The proportion of candidates achieving grades A to C in GCSE mathematics in 1990 rose by 2·1 per cent. to 40·2 per cent. compared with 1989.
Dyslexic Students
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what co-ordination is exercised through his Department to ensure that examination boards provide similar facilities for the benefit of specific categories of dyslexic students; and if he will make a statement.
This Department has no powers to ensure that the independent GCSE examining groups make such provision. The groups have, however, agreed common arrangements to ensure that, as far as possible, candidates should not be disadvantaged by their dyslexia. I will write to the hon. Member about a particular case which he has brought to the attention of my right hon. and learned Friend.
School Leaving Age
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proposals his Department has to promote full-time participation in education after the age of 16 years; and if he will make a statement.
Full-time participation in post-compulsory education has increased substantially over recent years. For 16-year-olds in England, it has increased by about 15 percentage points, from 40 per cent. in 1978–79 to over 55 per cent. in 1989–90. Between 1987–88 and 1989–90 alone, the improvement has been seven percentage points, mainly attributable to the introduction of the GCSE.As my right hon. and learned Friend said on 13 November,
Official Report, column 484, he will strive to achieve further increases in the number of young people receiving some form of education and training. Our examination reforms are raising standards in schools, giving more young people the qualifications and motivation to stay on. As the Education Reform Act comes increasingly into effect, we can expect standards to continue to rise and more young people to choose to stay on. The Government will keep under review whether more needs to be done.
Student Unions
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action he proposes to take concerning local student unions, the National Union of Students and freedom of speech; and if he will make a statement.
I will shortly embark on consultations with representatives of the higher education institutions and various student bodies on the operation of the 1986 legislation on freedom of speech in higher and further education institutions; on the pattern of membership and financing of local student unions and the NUS; and on the proper use of public funds by local student unions and the NUS.
Environment
Nature Conservancy Council
15.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment by how much funding for the Nature Conservancy Council has increased since 1979; and what level of funding is proposed for the council in the coming financial year.
Grant in aid to the Nature Conservancy Council (NCC) has risen from £7·9 million in 1979–80 to £44·819 million in 1990–91. Funding for the NCC's successor body in England, the Nature Conservancy Council for England, has been set provisionally at £32·411 million for 1991–92, with £1·05 million allocated to the NCC's residuary body. Provision of £1·093 million has been made for the transfer of the NCC's pension liabilities to my Department. Allocations for the Nature Conservancy Council for Scotland and the Countryside Council for Wales have not yet been announced.
Homelessness
16.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures he is taking to provide accommodation for the homeless.
My Department is making available capital resources of nearly £2 billion to local authorities in 1991–92. Support for housing associations through the Housing Corporation will rise to £1·7 billion in 1991–92 and to over £2 billion by 1993–94. The special homelessness allocation for local authorities and housing associations in London and the south-east has now been increased to £300 million over this year and next. In addition we are providing £100 million between now and 1993 for the initiative to combat single homelessness in London.
Rural Development Commission
17.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he next intends to meet the chairman of the Rural Development Commission to discuss progress relating to the economic and social development of rural areas.
My hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment and Countryside plans to meet Lord Shuttleworth shortly.
Waste Paper
18.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what change there has been in 1990 in the recycling of waste paper; what recent initiatives he has taken to encourage the recycling of waste paper; and if he will make a statement.
Over 2,000,000 tonnes of waste paper were recycled during the first nine months of this year, which is a 12 per cent. increase over 1989. The Environmental Protection Act requires all collection authorities to draw up and publish recycling plans; and will give financial help through the system of recycling credits.
Carbon Dioxide Emissions
20.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action is proposed to reduce emission of carbon dioxide over the next year.
The White Paper on the environment—"This Common Inheritance"—which was published in September outlines a range of measures we intend to take to curb emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.
English Heritage
21.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what increase he plans next year in funding for English Heritage.
Grant in aid to English Heritage in 1991–92 will total £89·2 million. This is £9·5 million above previous plans and includes the first £2 million tranche of new money for repair grants to historic cathedrals. Over the three years to 1993–94 resources for cathedral repairs will total £11·5 million. The increases for English Heritage's existing activities will enable it to strengthen its grant programmes for other church and secular buildings and to press on with visitor facility and maintenance works at some of its important properties-in-care. In addition, the extra resources will enable English Heritage to take forward a number of the initiatives set out in the White Paper, "This Common Inheritance"—in particular greater priority for assistance to historic town centres and industrial heritage, a comprehensive register of historic landscapes and gardens to inform the planning process, and the development of heritage-related education initiatives. By 1993–94 grant in aid to English Heritage is planned to increase to over £100 million.
National Rivers Authority
22.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the progress of the National Rivers Authority and on his future plans for funding it.
37.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any proposals to increase the funding or powers available to the National Rivers Authority.
In its first year of existence the National Rivers Authority has shown itself to be a dedicated and effective guardian of the water environment. The Government announced substantial extra financial support for the National Rivers Authority in the autumn statement. Grant in aid will be increased for 1991–92 by £23 million to £106 million, an increase of 28 per cent. over previous plans. Together with increased income from charges on dischargers, this will enable the authority to increase its total spend on environmental activities next year to about £217 million compared to this year's level of some £170 million.
Kirklees Henry Boot Partnership Ltd
23.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the Government have provided any financial support for the Kirklees council Henry Boot joint venture company; and if he will make a statement.
The Government have provided no financial support to the Kirklees Henry Boot Partnership Ltd.
Bedfordshire County Council
24.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the percentage increase of external finance that Bedfordshire county council will receive in 1991–92 as compared with 1990–91; and if he will make a statement.
The provisional figures issued by my right hon. Friend on 31 October indicate a 23·9 per cent. increase in the total level of external support for districts in Bedfordshire taken together.
Derelict Land
25.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much derelict land has been reclaimed through the use of derelict land grant and the activity of the urban development corporations.
Figures for the amount of land reclaimed with the aid of derelict land grant before 1974 are not available. In the period 1974–75 to 1989–90 a total of 20,366 hectares was reclaimed. Urban development corporations have reclaimed over 1,200 hectares in their areas since designation.
Liverpool City Council
26.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to meet the leader of the Liverpool city council to discuss central Government funding for the city.
In response to a request from the city council for a meeting to discuss a number of issues, I have written to the leader suggesting that we should arrange it as soon as convenient.
Domestic Waste
27.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps are contemplated to reduce the use of open landfill as a means of disposing of domestic waste.
Landfill, properly located and operated to the highest standards, is expected to remain a major option for the disposal of domestic waste in the United Kingdom. Recommended standards need to be imposed through disposal licensing controls and these should include requirements for daily cover of tipping areas and the consequent reduction of open operations to the minimum. The provisions of the newly enacted Environmental Protection Act 1990 will improve the effectiveness of licensing controls and similar legislation will be brought forward for Northern Ireland.
Rates (Brent)
28.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment by how much non-domestic rate poundages increased over and above inflation in Brent between 1979–80 and 1989–90.
The rate poundage in Brent increased by 89 per cent. between 1979–80 and 1989–90 over inflation. During the same period, locally set non-domestic rate poundages in England rose by an average of 37·4 per cent. more than the retail prices index. This contrasts vividly with the new system under which the national non-domestic rating multiplier cannot rise by more than the rate of inflation.
Birds
29.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received about proposed reform of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 about the protection of birds.
I have received many representations in response to the proposal to introduce a licensing scheme for the control of pest bird species which we put forward as a way of bringing our practice into line with the requirements of the EC birds directive. The great majority of those responding argued that there are no conservation reasons for changing the law and that our traditional practices are fully in line with the spirit of the directive. The Government agree and I therefore intend to take no further action on this proposal but shall continue to press the European Commission to bring forward a proposal for amending the directive so that member states can operate sensible pest control practices.
Shared Purchase Schemes
30.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many properties have been bought by (a) a council tenants and (b) housing association tenants either outright or through shared purchase schemes in the past 10 years.
It is estimated that 1·1 million council tenants and 53,000 housing association tenants purchased their homes either outright or through shared ownership schemes in England in the years 1980–81 to 1989–90.
Waste Recycling
31.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what policy instruments he proposes to use to encourage more recycling of waste.
The Environmental Protection Act 1990 sets a framework designed to promote recycling. The new duty of care on disposers of waste will increase the standards required in disposing of waste by landfill. The Act requires all local authorities involved in waste disposal and collection to give priority to recycling, wherever practicable, in their plans: and allows authorities to specify environmentally friendly options for waste disposal, such as recycling, even if they are not the cheapest in financial terms. The Act also requires local authorities to pay recycling credits and those involved in waste collection to produce recycling plans.
The White Paper on the environment "This Common Inheritance" sets out a number of measures that we will be pursuing to ensure successful recycling. We will be pressing industry to increase both the recycling of materials and the use of recycled material; encouraging retailers to provide collection facilities for recyclable material for their customers; and persuading industry to expand its capacity to process reclaimed material.
In his autumn statement the Chancellor announced that £40 million in supplementary credit approvals will be available over the next three years to enable local authorities to invest in facilities and equipment needed to set up effective recycling schemes.
The White Paper was printed on recycled paper and my Department is setting an example in its use of recycled paper for all ministerial correspondence and for photocopying.
Sewage Outfalls
32.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what contribution his Department will make to the costs of providing full treatment in respect of new sewage outfalls.
The costs of providing treatment will, in the first instance, fall to the sewerage undertakers, but may be eligible for consideration for cost-pass-through under the terms of their licences. This will be a matter for the Director General of Water Services to determine.
River Pollution
33.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on the importance of river pollution as a contributor to North sea pollution; and what is Britain's contribution to the problem.
Rivers and estuaries are the most important source of contaminants in the North sea and, together with direct coastal discharges, represent about 40 per cent. of total North sea pollution.A recent study by the International Centre for Water Studies in Amsterdam indicates that the Rhine and Elbe are the most significant of these, together contributing about 65 per cent. of river-borne contaminants. The United Kingdom accounts for about 20 per cent. of the river-borne total.
Local Government Finance
34.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on progress in collecting the community charge in Nottinghamshire.
I understand that over 85 per cent. of charge payers in Nottinghamshire had made payments up to the end of September. The figures vary between a creditable 94·7 per cent. in Broxtowe borough council to a disappointing 67·9 per cent. so far in Nottingham city council. I look to all charging authorities to make full use of their wide powers to see that these figures approach 100 per cent. during the next five years.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list to date for the South Yorkshire valuation and community charge tribunal how many applications have been lodged in respect of the community charge; how many objections to domestic rates are still ourstanding; what are the figures for the other counties of Yorkshire and Humberside; and by what percentage these figures differ from the national average.
The information requested is as follows:
Community Charge Appeals | ||
Total appeals received to date | Variation from national average | |
per cent. | ||
South Yorkshire VCCT | 73 | −28 |
North Yorkshire VCCT | 218 | +116 |
West Yorkshire VCCT | 110 | −9 |
Humberside VCCT | 763 | +655 |
Total appeals in England | 14,230 | — |
National VCCT average | 1101 | — |
1At 30 September 1990. |
Domestic Rating Appeals | ||
Appeals outstanding | ||
Number | Per cent. | |
South Yorkshire VCCT | 2,660 | +19 |
North Yorkshire VCCT | 1,494 | −33 |
West Yorkshire VCCT | 2,623 | +17 |
Humberside VCCT | 1,566 | −30 |
National VCCT average | 12,235 | — |
1 At 30 September 1990. |
Business Rates
35.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the national increase in the business rate poundage in real terms in the 10 years to 1989–90.
In the period 1979–80 to 1989–90 locally set non-domestic rate poundages in England rose by an average of 37·4 per cent. more than the retail prices index. This contrasts vividly with the new system under which the national non-domestic rating multiplier cannot rise by more than the rate of inflation.
Bathing Waters
36.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will provide the latest figures which are available on the compliance of bathing waters with the European Community bathing water standards.
I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Angus, East (Mr. Welsh).
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made in improving the quality of bathing waters, and when he expects all bathing waters to meet the standards in the EC bathing water directive.
Provisional results for the survey carried out during the 1990 bathing season showed that 77 per cent. of the 446 identified bathing waters in the United Kingdom met the mandatory coliform bacteria standards of the EC bathing water directive. This compares with 76 per cent. of the 440 identified bathing waters in 1989.Although this maintains the steady improvement of recent years, I believe that more urgent action is required to bring all our bathing waters up to the highest standards. Last March I announced that in future all substantial discharges of sewage to sea should be treated at a sewage treatment works. The estimated cost of this was £1·5 billion. I am now able to announce that following discussions with the water companies in England and Wales, they have agreed to provide additional treatment for around 40 improvement schemes at an estimated cost of about £600 million over the next five years. This is on top of the £1·4 billion bathing water compliance programme announced last year which the companies have also agreed to advance where possible.
Bathing Waters. Survey—1990 results for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland | ||||||
Compliance with bathing Water Directive (76/160/EEC): Coliform Standard | ||||||
Pass | Fail | Total | ||||
England | ||||||
Northumbrian Region | 21 | (20) | 12 | (12) | 32 | (32) |
Yorkshire Region | 17 | (18) | 5 | (4) | 22 | (22) |
Anglian Region | 27 | (23) | 2 | (5) | 29 | (28) |
Thames Region | 3 | (3) | 0 | 0 | 3 | (3) |
Southern Region | 48 | (45) | 18 | (20) | 66 | (65) |
Wessex Region | 39 | (31) | 0 | (7) | 39 | (38) |
South West Region | 118 | (113) | 15 | (19) | 133 | (132) |
North West Region | 10 | (11) | 23 | (22) | 33 | (33) |
Wales | 35 | (40) | 15 | (8) | 50 | (48) |
Scotland | 12 | (16) | 11 | (7) | 23 | (23) |
Northern Ireland | 15 | (16) | 1 | 0 | 16 | (16) |
Totals | 345 | (336) | 101 | (104) | 446 | (440) |
Housing Associations
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what percentage of housing association new build comes from off-the-shelf programmes;what percentage of housing association new build is shown to be to mobility standard as a result of the scheme audit;what percentage of housing association new build comes from rehabilitation programmes.
These are matters for the Housing Corporation. I have therefore asked the chairman of the corporation to respond to my hon. Friend direct.
Air Pollution
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations and information he has had and from whom, concerning implications of the moving of the east London air quality monitoring station 2 km to the north-west for the accuracy of monitoring of air pollution; and if he will make a statement.
My right hon. Friend has received no such representations. The Department has no responsibility for the east London air quality monitoring station in question.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will update the figures in his answer of 26 July, Official Report, columns 381–82, for all of 1990 so far; and if he will list the dates, number of hours over 60 ppb, and maximum levels, from the ozone monitoring network covering the London area.
The dates, number of hours over 60 ppb and the maximum levels of ozone in ppb
This means that bathing waters will be improved sooner, and for many discharges the standard of treatment provided will be better than previously planned. Our aim is to complete the improvement programme for all bathing waters that presently fail to comply with EC standards by 1995, although present indications are that this may not be practicable for nine large schemes where there are major technical difficulties.
The 1990 results for the United Kingdom are set out in summary form. I shall arrange for a more detailed summary of the results to be placed in the Library shortly, and we shall also be sending the results to the Commission of the European Communities.
measured at the Department of the Environment monitoring sites in the London area so far during 1990 are as follows:
Date
| Number of hours over 60 ppb
| Maximum hourly mean, ppb
|
Central London Laboratory, Minster House, Victoria
| ||
May 5 | 6 | 88 |
6 | 6 | 79 |
June 17 | 4 | 67 |
July 8 | 4 | 69 |
15 | 1 | 64 |
18 | 2 | 61 |
20 | 3 | 79 |
21 | 7 | 96 |
August 1 | 3 | 69 |
3 | 3 | 74 |
4 | 5 | 83 |
Bridge Place, Victoria
| ||
July 15 | 1 | 64 |
18 | 2 | 61 |
20 | 3 | 79 |
21 | 7 | 96 |
August 1 | 4 | 82 |
3 | 3 | 90 |
4 | 9 | 108 |
24 | 2 | 68 |
25 | 6 | 79 |
Stevenage, Hertfordshire
| ||
April 1 | 1 | 63 |
June 17 | 4 | 82 |
29 | 2 | 64 |
July 15 | 11 | 100 |
18 | 1 | 63 |
19 | 6 | 101 |
20 | 9 | 110 |
21 | 13 | 126 |
August 21 | 7 | 89 |
Date
| Number of hours over 60 ppb
| Maximum hourly mean, ppb
|
2> | 8 | 118 |
3 | 12 | 136 |
4 | 8 | 90 |
24 | 4 | 75 |
26 | 5 | 81 |
29 | 1 | 63 |
Harwell, Oxfordshire
| ||
April 29 | 4 | 71 |
30 | 5 | 85 |
May 3 | 4 | 90 |
4 | 6 | 85 |
5 | 9 | 100 |
6 | 6 | 81 |
28 | 3 | 67 |
June 16 | 4 | 70 |
17 | 9 | 71 |
July 15 | 10 | 89 |
17 | 9 | 79 |
18 | 7 | 82 |
19 | 7 | 83 |
20 | 9 | 84 |
21 | 13 | 132 |
25 | 5 | 78 |
26 | 2 | 63 |
27 | 1 | 67 |
August 1 | 7 | 81 |
2 | 11 | 106 |
3 | 18 | 113 |
4 | 10 | 89 |
24 | 5 | 76 |
25 | 7 | 68 |
28 | 4 | 67 |
29 | 5 | 69 |
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when his Department was notified that the BBC was prepared to use air quality information supplied by his Department; when the service was arranged to start; why the supply of information was withdrawn; when his Department notified the BBC of the need for a press conference about air quality; when the press conference took place; and if he will make a statement.
The arrangements for the new public air quality information system were made with the Meteorological Office. It already supplies weather information to the media, and advised that there would be a demand for air quality data supplied at the same time. The service was launched by my hon. Friend the Member for Rossendale and Darwen (Mr. Trippier) at a press conference on 24 October. I am not aware of any break in availability of data from the Meteorological Office. The prominence given by the media to the information at any particular time will, of course, depend on the pollution levels reported.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what advice he has given to people to protect themselves from increased susceptibilities to infection and disease resulting from high levels of ozone.
I have been asked to reply.The Department of Health has established an advisory group on the medical aspects of air pollution episodes. This group will consider what advice, if any, should be given by central Government about personal protection measures when levels of air pollution are high. It will give guidance on to whom this advice should be addressed, and what criteria should be adopted for issuing it.
A "Layman's Guide to Ozone" was issued in 1989 by the Department of the Environment with input on health aspects from the Department of Health. A copy is available in the Library.
Ivory
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is Her Majesty's Government's policy on the lifting, in any respect, of the current ivory ban; and if he will make a statement.
The Government remain firmly committed to maintaining the ivory trade ban for as long as it is necessary to ensure the survival and recovery of elephant populations. The CITES convention provides for species to be removed from appendix I when no longer endangered, but the Government have no plans to initiate proposals for such a reclassification.
Pollution
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the progress made to date on implementing the provisions of the Control of Pollution (Amendment) Act 1989; what regulations have been laid; and what regulations he expects to lay arising from the Act.
The regulations necessary to implement the Control of Pollution (Amendment) Act 1989 are now being finalised with a view to their being issued for consultation before the Christmas recess. The proposed regulations will:
Home Repossessions
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the Official Report his letter in response to the written question from the hon. Member for Barnsley, East (Mr. Patchett), Official Report, 1 November, column 694, on home repossessions.
The text of the reply sent on 12 November was as follows:
"I was unable to provide an answer to your question about mortgage possessions before the Recess and in my reply of 1 November I said I would write.
The available information on the number of properties taken into possession is based on statistics provided by the largest building societies (and Abbey National). These figures are published every six months by the Council of Mortgage Lenders and a copy of their latest press release is enclosed, with the figures you require at Table 1. I understand that the CML is planning to extend the coverage of these statistics to other mortgage lenders, including banks, insurance companies and finance houses.
Local authorities have also provided limited mortgage lending where buyers have found it difficult to obtain funds from elsewhere. The scale of such lending is now very small. The information provided by English local authorities on properties taken into possession in the financial years 1978–79 to 1989–90 is given in the attached table."
Copies of the documents referred to are in the Library.
Environment Statistics
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set out Her Majesty's Government's reservations expressed in regard to the European Commission proposal to the Council on COM (90) 319 final on the gathering of regular official statistics on the environment.
[ holding answer 12 November 1990]: The Government support in principle the Commission's proposal to establish a formal programme for the regular collection of official statistics on the environment to inform Community environmental policy. There are a number of important areas which the Government wish to clarify in refining the details of the proposal. These include:
Residential Development
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment on how many occasions in each of the last five years he has permitted residential development which took the total dwellings for a sub-plan area beyond his own recommendations.
[holding answer 12 November 1990]: This information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Figures for housing provision in development plans will carry weight as material considerations in the determination of planning applications and appeals, but they are not necessarily overriding. Each case has to be decided on its particular merits, and all relevant material considerations must by statute be taken into account.
Homelessness, Newham
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on the number of people on the homelessness register in the London borough of Newham in each year since 1980.
[holding answer 13 November 1990]: Local authorities report the number of households accepted and found accommodation under the homelessness provisions of the Housing (Homeless Persons) Act 1977 and the Housing Act 1985.Available figures from Newham's housing investment programme returns are:
Households | |
1980–81 | n/a |
1981–82 | 568 |
1982–83 | 720 |
1983–84 | 660 |
Households
| |
1984–85 | 1,263 |
1985–86 | 898 |
1986–87 | 1,511 |
1987–88 | 1,566 |
1988–89 | 637 |
1989–90 | 1,039 |
Airport Companies
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what contribution has been made from the surplus at local authority-controlled or influenced airport companies to the provision and funding of local services; and if he will make a statement.
I have been asked to reply.The 15 public airport companies publish annual reports and accounts in accordance with the Companies Act. These record the following dividends as having been paid to the shareholder local authorities for 1989–90:
£ million | |
Birmingham | 1·6 |
Bournemouth | 0·2 |
Bristol | 0·6 |
Cardiff | 0·2 |
Luton | 0·2 |
Manchester | 8·5 |
Newcastle | 2·0 |
Norwich | 0·3 |
Scotland
Cleveland Fuels Ltd
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take account of the draft European Community directives on the incineration of hazardous wastes when considering the current application by Cleveland Fuels Ltd. for a licence for the incineration of waste residues at Renfrew.
I understand that the draft directive on the incineration of hazardous wastes is at an early stage in its preparation. I shall however take note of the current proposals when considering the application by Cleveland Fuels Ltd. for registration as an incineration works.
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will consider prevailing levels of atmospheric pollution locally when considering the application by Cleveland Fuels Ltd. for a certificate of registration for the incineration of waste residues at Renfrew.
I understand from Glasgow district council that recent measurements of sulphur ioxide in parts of its district, close to the site of the incinerator proposed by Cleveland Fuels Ltd., show average levels appreciably higher than would be expected from data currently available from the national survey of smoke and sulphur dioxide. I shall consider this point further when setting limits on the discharge of sulphur dioxide from the proposed plant.
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if, when he considers the application by Cleveland Fuels Ltd. for a certificate of registration for the incineration of waste residues at Renfrew, he will take account of the formulation used for the pollution assessment contained within the application.
Two different approaches, both of which gave acceptable results, were used by Cleveland Fuels Ltd. to assess the environmental impact of its emissions.Her Majesty's industrial pollution inspectorate will however carry out its own assessments before determining the appropriate content of the certificate of registration for the company.
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if, when considering the application by Cleveland Fuels Ltd. for a certificate of registration for the incineration of waste residues at Renfrew, he has taken account of (a) the nature of the feedstock and (b) the description of the nature of the feedstock provided in the application.
Cleveland Fuels Ltd. has provided a generic description of the fuel it intends to use, specified primarily by maximum pollutant content and to a lesser extent by source. In assessing its application for registration I will not only take account of this description but also give consideration to such other likely characteristics of the waste as may give rise to nuisance. The company will be required to provide such equipment and to carry out such tests as are necessary to minimise their impact on the local environment.
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if, when considering the application by Cleveland Fuels Ltd. for a certificate of registration for the incineration of waste residues at Renfrew, he will take any steps to force the company to fulfil the undertaking given in the application that it would operate an open door policy.
I have been assured by the company that it wishes to be as open as possible with the local population and to discuss with them any difficulties occasioned by the operation of the plant. If the proposal proceeds, Her Majesty's industrial pollution inspectorate will actively encourage the development of good working relationships between the company and its neighbours.
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give a breakdown of the representations he received in connection with Cleveland Fuels Ltd.'s application for a licence including (a) the names of those organisations and individuals making representations and (b) how many supported and how many opposed the proposed development.
Her Majesty's industrial pollution inspectorate has received nine representations directly, one of which included a petition, as a result of the public advertisement by Cleveland Fuels Ltd. of its application for registration as an incineration works. There has also been one letter from a Member of Parliament about the application. All were opposed to the development.Respondents were not however advised that their names and affiliations may be made public. I must honour the implied confidentiality and cannot therefore list: them as requested.
Forth Valley Health Board
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will ask Mr. A. R. Robertson, general manager, Forth Valley health board, to reply to the letter of 17 September from the hon. Member for Strathkelvin and Bearsden.
This is a matter for Forth Valley health board but I have asked officials to draw the hon. Member's question to the attention of the board.
Waste Incinerators
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list all the applications in (a) the last 12 months and (b) currently under consideration for the siting of waste incinerators in Scotland and the company requesting the operating licence in each case.
Her Majesty's pollution inspectorate has received the following applications for registration as waste incinerators:
Isola Werke, UK Ltd., Cumbernauld—tail gas incinerator;
Lothian Chemical Co., Edinburgh—tail gas and waste materials incinerator;
Besides these, all of which are still under consideration, the deemed registrations as a result of changes to the statutory position contained within the Control of Air Pollution (Registration of Works) Regulations 1989 for the following incinerators have still to be determined:(a) Local Authority Municipal IncineratorsCleveland Fuels Ltd., Renfrew—waste materials incinerator.
- East Tullos, Aberdeen District Council
- Alloa, Clackmannan District Council
- Baldovie, Dundee District Council
- Linwood, Renfrew District Council
- St. Ola, Orkney District Council
- Roma Head, Shetland District Council
(b) Industrial Waste Incinerator
Lanstar (Scotland) Ltd., Ardersier.
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many applications for licences for waste incinerators in Scotland have been received in the last 10 years from (a) Caird Development Ltd., (b) Cleveland Fuels Ltd. and (c)any other subsidiary of Caird Development.
Only Cleveland Fuels Ltd. has applied for the registration of a waste incinerator.
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many complaints were received by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution in connection with incinerators operated by Caird Development or its subsidiaries in the last five years.
Caird Development or its subsidiaries have not operated any incinerators in Scotland over the last five years. Her Majesty's industrial pollution inspectorate therefore has no record of complaint.The company's operations in England and Wales are inspected by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution and questions related to the company's operations there should be addressed to the relevant Secretaries of State.
Police Arrests
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland to what extent, and in what form, information on the number of arrests by police (a) by force and (b) nationally is maintained.
Information on the number of arrests by police is not held centrally in Scotland. Within police forces records of arrests are kept at the station of detention or relevant divisional office.
Heart Attacks
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many patients within the Greater Glasgow health board area have suffered heart attacks while awaiting coronary angiography during the last 12 months.
Information on the number of patients who suffer heart attacks is not recorded.
Nurses (Grading Appeals)
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on current progress being made in each health board in Scotland on nurses' clinical grading appeals.
I understand that at the end of September, eight out of 15 health boards had completed the appeals currently before them. The rest have undertaken to complete their appeal hearings by the end of March 1991.
Health Councils
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about the direct representation of patients, medical and paramedical staff and community interests in local health councils.
Under the terms of the NHS (Scotland) Act 1978, as amended, members of local health councils are appointed under the provisions of schemes prepared by health boards and approved by the Secretary of State.
British Rail
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will discuss with the British Railways Board the proposals for the future of Speedlink services discussed by the board at its meeting on 1 November.
British Rail will submit the conclusions of its review of Speedlink services to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport. My right hon. and learned Friend will consider the implications for Scotland of any action which is proposed.
Rents-To-Mortgages Scheme
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if his Department has considered the numbers of completions and applications achieved under the rents-to-mortgages scheme in its first year as against the target set by Scottish Homes; and if he will make a statement.