Written Answers
Thursday, 20th November 1997.
Interest Rate Increases
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they consider that the five increases in interest rates that have been made by the Bank of England since May 1997 will assist in economic convergence with other European Union states whose interest rates are lower than Britain's; and, if so, how.
The Government are satisfied that the new monetary policy framework will deliver the Government's inflation target of 2 per cent. Low inflation is essential, both for the Government's economic objective of high and stable levels of growth and employment, and for sustainable convergence with other EU economies. Since May, market expectations of inflation and interest rates have fallen: as a consequence long-term interest rates have fallen by almost a full percentage point and are now much closer to German levels. This indicates that the prospects for lasting convergence have improved.
National Museums: Vat Payments
asked Her Majesty's Government:How much VAT has been paid in the last financial year by the British Museum, the National Portrait Gallery and the Tate Gallery, indicating the figure for each museum; andHow much VAT has been recovered in the last financial year by the Victoria and Albert Museum, the National Museum of Science and Industry, the Imperial War Museum, the Natural History Museum and the National Maritime Museum, indicating the figure for each museum.
I cannot give information on the affairs of individual taxpayers.
Cold Weather Payments
asked Her Majesty's Government:When they propose to put into effect their stated intention of increasing provision to alleviate the windchill factor for disabled and elderly people during cold spells of winter weather.
We have fulfilled our commitment to review the Cold Weather Payments scheme. The review took place against a background of successful government action to cut fuel costs and make homes easier to heat.
The annual fuel bills for people eligible for cold weather payments are estimated to be £60 million less this year than last.
So far we have reduced VAT on domestic fuel from 8 to 5 per cent.; announced the removal of the gas levy; extended energy efficiency grants to include cavity wall insulation and the upgrading of heating system controls; and announced the setting up of an Environmental Task Force which is expected to include a programme of energy efficiency improvements in the homes of the elderly. In addition, almost £800 million will be released to local authorities over the next two years to help meet pressing housing needs. It will be for individual authorities to identify priority needs, but we would expect works which improve energy efficiency to feature in many areas.
We considered a report commissioned from the Building Research Establishment into the effects of wind speed on domestic heating needs during very cold weather. We took the view that allowing for the effects of wind speed would increase the complexity and uncertainty of the scheme without ensuring that payments went to those with the greatest need for additional heating. Taking into account all the relevant considerations, we decided not to amend the scheme to take account of wind speed.
Drugs Prevention Initiative: Annual Report
asked Her Majesty's Government:When they will publish a report on the progress of the Home Office's Drugs Prevention Initiative.
We are publishing tomorrow the Drugs Prevention Initiative's seventh annual progress report. The report summarises encouraging progress. An extensive and innovative programme is now providing some useful findings about effective community-based drugs prevention work. The programme aims to show more fully by March 1999 what action communities themselves can take to tackle local drugs problems. We shall be placing a copy of the report in the Library tomorrow at 10.30 am.
War Crimes: Prosecutions In British Courts
asked Her Majesty's Government:In the light of the call by the President of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia on national courts and judges to assist in the struggle against impunity by initiating their own prosecutions of persons on their territory who may have committed atrocities in the former Yugoslavia, whether they are satisfied that the United Kingdom's existing criminal law, which only allows the courts to deal with breaches of the Geneva Conventions committed in the course of international armed conflict, would enable British courts to prosecute any of those indicated who might enter British jurisdiction.
On 4 November, the President of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia called on national courts and judges to prosecute offences of grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions of 1957, or to extradite alleged offenders to the tribunal. The United Kingdom has the necessary legislation (The Geneva Conventions Act 1957) in place to prosecute such breaches and to surrender persons indicted for such breaches to the tribunal.
Army Engineer Resources
asked Her Majesty's Government:What plans they have for the Army's Engineer Resources.
The previous administration announced in August 1995 that the Army Engineer Resources organisation, based at Long Marston in Warwickshire, would collocate with another Royal Engineers organisation—the Military Work Force—on a single site at Chilwell, near Nottingham. A number of subsequent developments have led to a review of this decision.In order to ensure that the Engineer Resources organisation was configured in the most efficient way for the transfer to Chilwell and subsequent market testing, a comprehensive business review of this organisation was carried out. This concluded that many of the Engineer tasks—notably storage, provisioning and repair—could be carried out more efficiently by other parts of the Army support organisation, for which they are core business.In parallel, further work was undertaken on the Army's overall storage requirement. The Storage Rationalisation Study, about which we made a separate announcement on 13 November 1997,
(Official Report, col. WA 44), concluded that the Army Base Storage and Distribution Agency had sufficient space to absorb the Engineer Resources storage task. In the light of this work, an investment appraisal has been carried out which has demonstrated that disaggregation of the Engineer Resources task is substantially more cost effective by some 15 per cent. (approximately £21 million over 25 years in net present value terms) than any option for collocation at Chilwell.
Obtaining greater efficiency from Defence spending is a central part of the Strategic Defence Review. All support activities are being rigorously scrutinised against the benchmark of value for money and the need to ensure that we retain only those assets which are essential for Defence needs. We have, therefore, accepted, as the basis for consultation, a recommendation to proceed with the disaggregation of the Engineer Resources tasks to other service providers. Long Marston will close by December 1999. Final decisions will be taken in the light of representations made during the consultation period. A copy of the consultative document is being placed in the Library of the House.
Baltic Defence College
asked Her Majesty's Government:What support they will be giving to the Baltic Defence College which will open at Tartu, Estonia, in the autumn of 1999.
The United Kingdom is already providing considerable defence assistance to the Baltic States, both bilaterally and through our active involvement in multilateral defence assistance projects such as the joint Baltic Peacekeeping Battalion (BALTBAT); we are exploring, with other Western states, what support we can provide to help ensure the success of the Baltic Defence College. My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence made clear our full backing for the establishment of the college when he visited all three Baltic States from 10-12 November.
Scotland: Religious Education In Non-Denominational Schools
asked Her Majesty's Government:What is their policy on religious education in non-denominational schools in Scotland.
Government policy for religious education in non-denominational schools in Scotland is set out in the Scottish Office Education Department Circular 6/91. This circular states that religious education is a valid and important educational experience at all stages of primary and secondary education. Religious education in schools should be based on Christianity as the main religious tradition of Scotland but should also take account of the teaching and practice of other principal religious traditions.
Fish Catches: Discarding
asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Answer given to Lord Williams of Elvel on 4 November (
WA282) on the outcome of the European Fisheries Council of 30 October, whether they will specify how the present rules on discarding will change, and when the new rules will come into effect.
The present EC technical conservation regulation requires sorting of fish to be carried out immediately after nets have been hauled. The regulation requires protected species (defined in the regulation) in excess of catch composition percentages laid down to be discarded immediately into the sea. Other provisions require undersized fish, shellfish and crustaceans to be discarded immediately.The new EC Regulation agreed at the Fisheries Council on 30 October to come into effect on 1 January 2000 alters these rules so that:
- for all vessels at all times the percentage of target species retained on board must be at least half that required by the regulation;
- in addition, for those vessels required to complete logbooks, after the first 24 hours of a trip the catch composition percentages must be correct at time of the daily completion of the logbooks;
- in all cases, the catch composition percentages must be correct at time of return to port.
As in the present regulation, undersized specimens must be discarded immediately.
Common Fisheries Policy: Reform
asked Her Majesty's Government:How and when they intend to implement the promise made in their election manifesto to "reform the common fisheries policy".
The Government are currently pursuing wide ranging improvements to the common fisheries policy, including strengthening the economic benefits that countries derive from their quotas, applying effective controls on fishing effort, improving enforcement measures, agreeing more effective conservation measures, improving the way that UK quotas are managed and introducing a greater regional dimension into the CFP.
Company Takeovers: Directive
asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the latest position with regard to the proposed EC directive on company takeovers, and whether they believe that the eventual directive will prove beneficial to the City of London and if so, why.
Following consideration of the European Commission's original proposal by the European Parliament, the Commission has recently adopted a revised text. The revised text—which has yet to be published—will form the basis of any discussions in the Council. The first meeting has been scheduled by the Luxembourg Presidency for 1 December.The Government do not believe that the directive, as presently drafted, would necessarily prove beneficial to the City of London, since it could risk disrupting the present process by introducing the possibility of tactical litigation.
Guinness Plc: Costs Of Inspectors' Report
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will provide a breakdown of the costs of the report of the inspectors appointed to investigate the affairs of Guinness plc, including the costs of the secretaries to the inspectors, fees paid to counsel instructed by the Department of Trade and Industry and the costs of producing the interim and subsequent reports.
The cost of the Guinness inspection to date is £3.15 million. The cost of the inspection at the time that the interim report was produced was £1.55 million. The separate costs of the secretaries to the inspectors and fees paid to counsel instructed by the department are not available.
Guinness Plc: Inspectors' Brief
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the terms of the original "widely drawn" brief to the inspectors appointed to investigate the affairs of the Guinness plc were intended to include an examination of the sales of Guinness shares by supporters of Argyll Group plc during the course of the bid for Distillers Group plc as well as the purchases of Guinness shares by supporters of Guinness plc; andWhether the original brief to the inspectors appointed to investigate the affairs of Guinness plc was subsequently "less formally" amended by the Department of Trade and Industry to restrict the investigation to certain individuals and advisers acting for Guinness plc.
The inspectors were appointed to investigate and report on the affairs and membership of Guinness plc. As the press notice announcing their appointment made clear, the purpose of the investigation was to examine circumstances suggesting misconduct of the affairs of Guinness in connection with its membership.
Feral Pigeons And Meningitis
asked Her Majesty's Government:What research they have conducted into the infectious viruses and bacteria carried by feral pigeons in inner city areas; how many cases of meningitis have been recorded in such pigeons; what research they are aware of that has been carried out by breweries and distilleries or by the relevant environmental agencies; and whether such tests have been carried out around university campuses.
Outbreaks of human meningitis are caused by person-to-person spread, and the viruses and bacteria that cause such outbreaks are not carried by pigeons or other birds. Pigeons may carry cryptococcus neoformans, a fungal organism which can cause a sub-acute type of meningitis in certain susceptible people such as the elderly and immuno-compromised.The Government have not conducted any research into the infectious viruses or bacteria carried by feral pigeons in inner city areas in the last 10 years, and are not aware of any such research carried out by breweries, distilleries or others.
Local Authority Secure Accommodation
asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by Lord Williams of Mostyn on 5 November (
WA 292-3), when they expect that the building programme of 170 new secure places in local authority accommodation will be completed; and where they will be located.
Only 10 of the 170 new places remain to be provided; these will be completed in August 1998. The location of the 170 new places is shown in the table.
| Local Authority | Secure Unit | New places from within the 170 place supply plan |
| Northumberland CC | Kyloe House | 7 |
| Lancashire CC | Dales House | 8 |
| Salford City Council | Barton Moss | 12 |
| Leeds City Council | Eastmoor | 9 |
| Sheffield City Council | Aldine House | 8 |
| Coventry City Council | Stoke House | 8 |
| Staffordshire CC | Watling House | 12 |
| Derbyshire CC | Brunel | 3 |
| Lincolnshire CC | Lincolnshire Secure Unit | 4 |
| Nottinghamshire CC | Clayfields | 10 |
| Cambridgeshire CC | Clare Lodge | 10 |
| Essex CC | Leverton Hall | 16 |
| Northamptonshire CC | St. Johns, Tiffield | 16 |
| Southwark London Borough | Orchard Lodge | 16 |
| Hampshire CC | Swanwick Lodge | 5 |
| Devon CC | Atkinson | 4 |
| S. Gloucestershire CC | Vinney Green | 6 |
| Neath/Port Talbot | Hillside—Welsh unit | 6 |
| Hammersmith & Fulham London | 10—available | |
| Borough | Stamford House | summer 1998 |
Mobile Telephones: Use While Driving
asked Her Majesty's Government:What assessment they have made of the research evidence relating to the dangers of using a mobile phone whilst driving.
There has been much concern about the road safety implications of using mobile phones while driving. We therefore asked the Transport Research Laboratory to look at the evidence currently available and the report they have prepared is being published today. Copies have been placed in the Library.The report concludes that the use of hand-held mobile phones while driving is widely regarded as unsafe. Most regard this as so self-evident that there have been few specific studies. Hands-free phones have received the greatest attention and the debate in the research community centres on the extent to which hands-free conversations impact on driving performance. Studies suggest that the distraction effect of phones reduces as they are made easier to use. However, the distraction caused by the mental effort of telephone conversation is present, even with advanced devices.Manual dialling and intense telephone conversations have been shown to cause considerable distraction and it is thought that this may impact on safety. Although the evidence is largely circumstantial, it all points in the same direction—that there is an association between telephone use and increased accident risk. Furthermore, there is evidence that phone conversations are more stressful than equivalent conversations with passengers.The results of this research are reflected in the revised draft of the
Highway Code on which we invited public comments last week and which we hope to put before Parliament next year. It is also reflected in the draft Code of Practice on the use of mobile phones in vehicles, which we are discussing with the mobile phone companies and motoring interests.
Housing: Redevelopment Of Previously Developed Land
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have set a target for the amount of new housing to be built on previously developed land.
No, the Government have not yet taken a final decision on what target might be appropriate. In the meantime, the previous Government's target of 50 per cent. still applies. We are considering our policy on planning for household growth, taking into account the public consultation earlier this year, and will announce our decisions in due course. We remain committed both to protecting the countryside and to regenerating our towns and cities by encouraging local authorities to make the best possible use of previously developed land. The presumption against inappropriate development within Green Belts remains in place.
Empty Government-Owned Homes
asked Her Majesty's Government:How the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, the Home Office and the Ministry of Defence performed against last year's targets for reducing empty government homes and what new targets have been set for 1997–98.
The overall number of empty homes held by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR), the Ministry of Defence and the Home Office fell by 754 between 1 April 1996 and 1 April 1997. This welcome reduction reflects a 5.7 per cent. fall in the number of empty Ministry of Defence properties. Against this there was a small increase in the number of empty homes held by both the Home Office and the DETR, reflecting an unexpectedly high number of new vacancies coming on stream. The number of empty homes is still too high and this government are determined to improve on these figures in the future. We simply cannot afford to have substantial numbers of government-owned homes lying empty.We have considered with other departments and interested parties such as the Empty Homes Agency how we might make better use of these properties and have investigated every opportunity for setting new, more challenging targets for this year as well as improving arrangements for the disposal process.
| Total stock at 1.4.97 | Total empty stock at 1.4.96 | Total empty stock at 1.4.97 | Target for percentage empty at 1.4.97 | Achievement against target | Target for percentage empty at 1.4.98 | Target for percentage habitable homes empty more than 6 months at 1.4.97 | Achievement against target | Target for percentage habitable homes empty for more than 6 months at 1.4.98 | Action being taken to dispose of Homes empty more than 6 months | |
| Home Office | 3,411 | 242 | 268 | <6% | 7.9% | <5% | 1% | 10.9% (32) | <1% | 19 properties are in the process of being sold. Four being refurbished for reoccupation. Four under review for disposal. Five are in blocks of police quarters with police tenants being targeted. |
| Department of Transport, (now the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions) | 3,120 | 669 | 690 | <17% | 22% | <18% | <7% | 11.2% (350) | <9% | All properties currently vacant are in the process of being sold or let through managing agents. |
| Ministry of Defence | 65,800 | 13,943 | 213,142 | To dispose of 4,000 empty homes | 4,987 | To dispose of 1,000 empty homes |
1 The Home Office has identified an under-reporting of this figure, because the Prison Service had previously understood that only homes surplus to operational requirements were to he included in the empty homes more than six months category. Consequently no central record has been kept of how long the non-surplus homes have been empty. The estimate is that up to 100 homes may have been missed from the previous reports, but that the current figure is considerably less than this as a result of a rigorous challenging of the non-surplus status. These homes will he included in future figures and are subject to 1997-98 targets.
2 Of the 13,142 properties empty:—1,755 have already been identified for disposal; 3,364 were allocated to incoming families: 2,533 were empty pending major upgrade work; 633 had been identified as temporarily surplus with action in hand to lease out to local authorities or housing associations and; 1,117 were not available to dispose of or lease out as they were on military bases and subject to security constraints. If these properties are excluded front the total number of empty properties it leaves 3.740 properties, which represents 5.86 per cent. of MOD stock.
< = less than.
The Home Office target for this year is more stringent than last year's. The high figure of empty DETR (Highways Agency) properties is due, mainly, to the rundown of the roads programme with properties which had been bought, and were being let until needed, being vacated so that they could be sold. This year's targets for DETR reflect this fact and the failure to meet the April 1997 target. However, they represent a significant improvement over last year's achievements. The Ministry of Defence's target has been set a level which will continue the disposal of surplus properties while retaining the flexibility to react to any changes to the demand for service housing which may emerge from the findings of the Strategic Defence Review, due to report next year.
Details of achievements against targets for 1996-97, and new targets for 1997-98 are below. Details of the Welsh Office and Scottish Office performance are not shown in the table as they are reporting their figures separately. My honourable friends the Ministers for Housing in Scotland and Wales will, however, continue to report and remain committed to further reductions in the number of empty properties they own.