Hansard

Written Answers

Volume 443: debated on Wednesday 20 July 1983

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Written Answers

Atomic Energy Authority Constabulary

Lord Avebury

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many constables were employed under the Atomic Energy (Special Constables) Bill at the latest convenient date, and whether they will list the sites at which the constables are employed.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Energy
(The Earl of Avon)

The current strength of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority constabulary is 618 compared with the complement of 653. The AEAC are employed at the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority establishments at Dounreay, Harwell, Risley, Winfrith and the London headquarters; the British Nuclear Fuels Limited establishments at Capenhurst, Chapelcross, Springfields and Sellafield; and the Uranium Enrichment Company premises at Marlow.

Matrimonial Causes Legislation: Northern Ireland Statistics

Lord Blease

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will publish details concerning the operation of the Matrimonial Causes (Northern Ireland) Order 1978 with regard to the following matters:

  • (i)the total number of persons, (a) male (b) female, who have petitioned for divorce in Northern Ireland since the operative date of the order;
  • (ii)the total (or estimated) number of petitioners, (a) male (b) female, who have duly appeared in court, in person, in Northern Ireland, which would not have been necessary in the rest of the United Kingdom by virtue of the Matrimonial Causes (Amendment) Rules 1973 [33(3) and 48] and the Matrimonial Causes (Amendment) Rules 1975; and
  • (iii)what was the number (or estimated number) of petitioners in England and Wales who exercised the right under the provisions mentioned in (ii) above not to appear in person in court.

    • The Lord Chancellor
    (Lord Hailsham of Saint Marylebone)

    The details requested are as follows:

  • (i)the total number of males and females who petitioned for divorce in Northern Ireland from April 1979 to the end of 1982 was 2,117 males and 3,559 females,
  • (ii)the total numbers of male and female petitioners who have appeared in court in Northern Ireland where this would not have been necessary in the rest of the United Kingdom are 1,815 males and 2,982 females,
  • (iii)the number of petitioners in England and Wales who exercised the right under the provisions of the Matrimonial Causes Rules 1973 [33(3) and 48] and the Matrimonial Causes (Amendment) Rules 1975 not to appear in person in court is not available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

    • Northern Ireland: Wildlife Habitat Legislation

    Lord Melchett

    asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they intend introducing wildlife habitat legislation in Northern Ireland to meet the requirements of Article 4 of Directive 79/409/EEC, and whether any legislation planned will follow the same format as Part II of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, in particular Sections 28 and 29.

    The Minister of State, Northern Ireland Office
    (The Earl of Mansfield)

    A proposal for a draft Nature Conservation and Amenity Lands Order will be published in the autumn containing suitable provisions to meet the requirement of Article 4 of Directive 79/409/EEC; it will reflect the format of Part II of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 in certain respects, but will not have a provision similar to Section 29.

    Dudley Enterprise Zone: Building Work And Wildlife

    Lord Melchett

    asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they are aware that developers destroyed a number of hedges and woodland at Merry Hill Farm, Dudley, between 16th and 18th May, and whether they will confirm:

  • (i)that in the course of this work a large number of birds' nests, eggs and young were destroyed;
  • (ii)that the developers, Richardsons Developments Ltd., had no approved roadline, nor had they applied for building regulation approval, at the time the destruction was carried out;
  • (iii)that it is an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act to destroy birds' nests, eggs and young in the breeding season unless this destruction is undertaken as an unavoidable part of legitimate development; and
  • (iv)why no prosecution has been taken as a result of this action.

    • Lord Skelmersdale

    The Merryhill site is within Dudley Enterprise Zone and is covered by the provisions of the statutory planning scheme for the zone. The work undertaken in the period mentioned was permitted development within the scheme and involved scraping and mounding of topsoil in preparation for future redistribution around the site. In this operation, hedges were removed in the central part of the site.The planning scheme for Dudley Enterprise Zone includes a provisional highway reservation line on the Merryhill site, which has not been prejudiced by the work carried out. In the opinion of the enterprise zone authority (Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council) scraping of the topsoil and associated operations did not require building regulations approval.Prosecutions under the Wildlife and Countryside Act are a matter for the police. In this instance police officers visited the site while operations were in progress and decided to take no further proceedings in the matter.