Hansard

Written Answers

Volume 426: debated on Tuesday 15 December 1981

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Written Answers

Mr Francis Marritt: Segregation Under Rule 43

Lord Avebury

asked Her Majesty's Government:Over what periods and in what prisons Mr. Francis Marritt, now a prisoner in Gloucester Prison, has been segregated under Rule 43 since the beginning of 1978.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office
(Lord Belstead)

Mr. Francis Marritt has been segregated under Rule 43 at Birmingham Prison between 1st July and 29th July 1978; at Parkhurst between 1st September and 21st November 1979; and between 10th January and 1st April 1980; at Coldingley between 29th June and 4th July 1980; at Kingston on 2nd December 1980; and at Long Lartin between 28th February and 2nd March 1981, between 8th June and 24th June 1981, between 25th June and 4th August 1981, between 5th August and 17th August 1981 and between 17th August and 1st September 1981.

Government Training Scheme Budgets

Lord Avebury

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the budget for 1981–82 and 1982–83 respectively for the TOPS computing courses, the Threshold Scheme, and the Computer Occupations Programme.

Earl Ferrers

The Manpower Services Commission's budget for the 1981–82 financial year for Training Opportunities Scheme computing courses is £16·2 million, for the Threshold Scheme £2·9 million, and for grants to employers (the Computer Occupations Programme) £1·9 million. Budgets for 1982–83 have not yet been determined.

Housing Conditions In Riot Areas

Lord Hylton

asked Her Majesty's Government:How they would described the housing conditions in those wards most affected by riots in 1981.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of the Environment
(Lord Bellwin)

The National Dwelling and Housing Survey of 1977 shows that the housing conditions in some of the wards most affected by the 1981 riots in London, Liverpool and Manchester are poor; but there is not a close association between the location of the riots and the distribution of the worst housing conditions. The measures of housing quality used are the percentage of households living at a density of more than one person per room and households lacking the exclusive use of one or more basic amenities. I have placed in the Library of the House maps showing this information at ward level.

The A34 Whitway Diversion

Lord Melchett

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, following their decision not to hold a public inquiry into the A.34 Whitway diversion in Hampshire, which threatens Highclere Park, they will state:

  • (a) How many objections to the proposed diversion they have received;
  • b) whether they received a petition signed by local people objecting to the proposed diversion and how many signatures it contained;
  • (c) whether they agree that an " appreciable " number of objections cannot be " few in number " as they have to be under the Government's Highways Manual (paragraph 31) before a public inquiry is dispensed with, and why they have therefore decided not to hold such an inquiry when they have announced that they have received an " appreciable " number of objections to this proposal;
  • (d) when they intend to hold meetings with the outstanding objectors, or ask them to enlarge on the grounds of their objections, and why these and other steps to resolve such objections were not taken before this decision was taken, and whether they agree that they have failed to carry out the steps set out in the Highways Manual, paragraph 34, lines 2 and 3;
  • (e) when they intend to send letters by recorded delivery giving objectors a final opportunity to withdraw their objections or to submit within four weeks any additional information to be taken into account in considering whether an inquiry should be dispensed with as laid down in paragraph 34 of the Highways Manual, and why this was not done before they decided not to hold a public inquiry;
  • (f) whether they consider that the Department of Transport's Press Notice 81/650/S 180 issued on 30th November 1981, and the letters sent to objectors setting out the terms of this Press Notice, amount to the notifications required under paragraph 35 of the Highways Manual.

    • The Earl of Avon

    The Highways Manual, to which the noble Lord refers, gives guidance to officials of the Department of Transport on policy and procedures for use in day to day administration of their highways duties. It is not intended as a statement of Government policy, and it certainly does not remove the duty on Ministers and officials to consider each case on its merits.As explained in the letter sent to objectors on 27th November about the A.34 Whitway Diversion, my right honourable friends were satisfied that they would have sufficient information to enable them to decide whether or not to make the draft orders for this scheme without holding a public inquiry, and that the holding of such an inquiry would cause unnecessary delay and uncertainty.

    On points of detail:

  • (a) My right honourable friends have received 60 letters of objection to the proposed diversion, and 26 letters supporting it.
  • (b) They have received petitions objecting to the proposed diversion, containing 165 signatures with a wide variety of addresses. Only about 25 appear to be in the parishes of Highclere or Burghclere, and about a further 40 have addresses in the Newbury area. They have also received a petition containing 404 signatures of residents of Burghclere, supporting the published proposals.
  • (c) By request the department have already held a number of meetings with objectors and those who have made representations and are willing to hold further meetings if requested to do so.
  • (d) A letter was sent on 27th November, giving all who have objected or made representations an opportunity to amplify their objection or representation by 4th January 1982.

    • Northern Ireland: Cgt Exemption On House Sales

    Lord Blease

    asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will indicate, for each of the last five years for which information is available, the total amounts the Treasury allowed through the provision of the exemption from capital gains tax to private home owners in Northern Ireland, on the sale of their homes.

    The Minister of State, Treasury
    (Lord Cockfield)

    I regret that this information is not available.

    Nicc Reform: Consultative Document

    Lord Nugent of Guildford

    asked Her Majesty's Government:When they will publish the consultative document on the options for NICC reform.

    Lord Lyell

    My right honourable friend the Minister of State at the Department of Trade has today published a consultative document on consumers' interests and the nationalised industries, and a copy has been placed in the Library of the House.House adjourned at eight o'clock.