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Nature Conservancy Council for 1989-90 less than the council requested ; and what criteria he used in deciding the amount of the allocation.Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : The Nature Conservancy Council's alocation for 1989-90 is based on the forward planning figures first notified to the council in November 1987, together with an additional sum of £0.5 million towards new expenditure which the council expects to incur in protecting important wildlife habitats in Caithness and Sutherland.
The allocation will allow the council to fulfil its essential commitments, and is set in the context of the Government's wider policy of restraining public expenditure. The scope for the Nature Conservancy Council to improve its efficiency and generate more revenue from publications and research was also taken into account.
Rating Reform
Dr. Cunningham : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to amend the Local Government Finance Act 1988 in respect of (a) the community charge provisions, (b) the revenue support grant and (c) the national non-domestic rate.
Mr. Ridley : The hon. Gentleman must wait and see.
Local Plans
Mr. Baldry : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will issue guidance on the preparation of local plans, following the consultations undertaken in June.
Mr. Ridley : Two further planning policy guidance notes are being published today, adding to the framework of concise national planning guidance issued earlier this year. PPG12 provides guidance on local plans and PPG13 on highway considerations in development control. Copies of both have been placed in the Libraries of the House. Our proposals for a much wider coverage of statutory development plans have been well received. Each district council should have a plan setting out its policies and proposals for development and conservation, to guide them in their decisions on individual planning applications and to provide guidance to developers and reassurance to local people about the future pattern of development in their area. Local plans are particularly necessary for areas where there is strong pressure for new development.
Local plans may also demonstrate the need for broad phasing of new development and for density policies to protect the character of established residential areas.
Where such plans are up to date and consistent with national and regional policies and with the relevant provisions of the structure plan, they will carry considerable weight in determining planning applications and appeals.
Private Sheltered Housing
Mr. Darling : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has received any representations seeking regulations of service charges and management fees levied by landlords and agents of private sheltered housing.
Mr. Trippier [holding answer 29 November 1988] : My Department received a number of such representations
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earlier this year. We therefore welcomed the initiative taken by my hon. Friend the Member for Fylde (Mr. Jack) in setting up a working party with representatives of the retirement housing industry and consumer interests ; I hope their code of practice for the industry will be completed and available soon.Mersey Basin
Mr. Alton : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what information he has as to the levels of mercury found in fish tested within the Mersey basin area ;
(2) what information he has as to the levels of dissolved oxygen in the waters of the Mersey basin.
Mr. Moynihan [holding answer 29 November 1988] : As the hon. Member will be aware, the Mersey Basin Campaign is the long-term Government -launched initiative to tackle both water pollution and landward dereliction in this important part of the country. The Department works with many bodies and operational agencies in the campaign organisation, and they carry responsibility in the first instance for much of the detailed information involved.
On mercury levels the relevant tests are on fish for human consumption and, in fact, are carried out in Liverpool bay and the Irish sea--not within the Mersey basin area itself where there are no commercial fisheries. the latest information I have from sea tests is that the level of mercury in fish flesh is 0.2 mg per kg net weight, which is below the EC limit of 0.3 mg.
As to levels of dissolved oxygen in the Mersey system, detailed measurements are carried out by North West water authority as part of its operations. I suggest that the hon. Member should approach the authority direct for any detailed information, and interpretation, he may require. Meanwhile, I understand from the authority that levels of dissolved oxygen are increasing throughout the system, including trouble spots such as the upper estuary.
Azores
Mr. Buckley : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the provisions of the draft European Community directive on the protection of fauna, flora and habitats extend to the Azores.
Mrs. Chalker : I have been asked to reply.
Yes.
ENERGY
Magnox
Mr. Speller : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) if he will list his estimate at 1987-88 prices for decommissioning Magnox, advanced gas cooled reactor and pressurised water reactor nuclear power stations ; what sums are currently set aside by the Central Electricity Generating Board and the South of Scotland Electricity Board respectively, for this purpose ; and if he will make a statement on his Departmental responsibility once the electricity supply industry is privatised ;
(2) what provisions have been made in their annual accounts by the Central Electricity Generating Board and
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the South of Scotland Electricity Board, respectively, for the decommissioning of Magnox and other nuclear reactors in the period 1970-87, at 1987 prices ;(3) how he will ensure that following privatisation adequate finance is available to cover the full costs of decommissioning Magnox reactors, including both the removal and storage costs of nuclear waste involved.
Mr. Michael Spicer : The total of the board's provisions for decommissioning, reprocessing of irradiated fuel and other liabilities, including the additional provision of £732 million made in 1987-88, was £3,367 million at 31 March 1988.
After privatisation, provisions will continue to be made for decommissioning ; and these will continue to be recovered in electricity prices.
Estimates of decommissioning costs are a matter for the CEGB. Matters relating to the SSEB are for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.
Energy Efficiency (Housing)
Mr. Speller : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list Government funding for energy efficiency of housing by way of the homes insulation scheme and of community insulation projects over each of the last five years for which figures are available.
Mr. Peter Morrison : Government expenditure on homes insulation scheme grants and current estimated total expenditure on the Community insulation projects over the period 1983-84 to 1987-88 were as follows :
|Homes Insulation Scheme|Community Insulation
|(£ million) |Projects (£ million)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1983-84 |25.5 |5.5
1984-85 |25.3 |8.6
1985-86 |28.0 |19.4
1986-87 |26.5 |36.6
1987-88 |<1>21.6 |45.2
<1> Provisional.
North Sea Installations
Mr. Leighton : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what role trade unions play in health and safety on North sea installations.
Mr. Peter Morrison : Trade unions play a role in offshore safety through their membership of the Health and Safety Commission's oil industry advisory committee and through formal and informal consultation procedures particularly with regard to new safety legislation. My safety directorate officials meet unions on a regular basis and upon request.
Nuclear Safety
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will arrange for publication in the Official Report of the resolutions on nuclear waste dumping and nuclear safety sponsored by the United Kingdom at the International Atomic Energy Authority 32nd regular session of the general conference.
Mr. Michael Spicer : A copy of both resolutions will be placed in the Library of the House.
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he is satisfied with the efficiency and effectiveness of the
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present International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards system as reported in the latest available International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards implementation report.Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he is now in a position to make a statement on the implications for the United Kingdom of the report of the European Parliament Energy Research and Technology Committee on Sellafield and EURATOM safeguards implementation.
Mr. Michael Spicer : No. On 27 October the European Parliament voted against the resolution based on the report of the committee.
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he has made any evaluation of the failures of safeguards implementation listed in the 1987 International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards implementation report, in regard to United Kingdom facilities, nuclear technology exported by the United Kingdom and nuclear materials exported under safeguards by the United Kingdom.
Mr. Michael Spicer : The agency's conclusion as given in the 1987 annual report was that the nuclear material under agency safeguards in 1987 remained in peaceful nuclear activities or was otherwise adequately accounted for.
Euratom
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make it his policy to initiate the full implementation of Euratom treaty articles 88 and 89.
Mr. Michael Spicer : No. It is for the European Commission to initiate such proposals.
Hinkley Point C
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will publish an estimate of (a) the cost of the departmental representation at the Hinkley Point C inquiry, (b) the volume of direct follow-up work in the form of written inquiries by objectors and (c) the continued commitment by departmental staff to monitor developments in the inquiry.
Mr. Michael Spicer : Department of Energy officials gave evidence at the Hinkley Point C inquiry from 26 October to 2 November inclusive. The expenses incurred by the Department's official witness, his two technical witnesses, and their backup team attending the inquiry were about £4,500.
There have been two subsequent written inquiries by objectors ; my Department has replied to one, and will reply to the other as soon as possible.
Officials of my Department will be following developments at the inquiry as appropriate.
Parliamentary Questions
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will outline the policy considerations which underlie his refusal to review all replies given since June 1987 that give no substantive reply on the grounds that such were only possible at disproportionate cost.
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Mr. Parkinson : It is my policy to give a full answer wherever possible, whilst having regard to the efficient use of my Department's resources.
Light Bulbs
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if his Department, or consultants to his Department, have made any recent study on the cost savings arising from the total replacement of incandescent light bulbs in use in (a) the domestic sector, (b) the industrial sector, (c) the commercial sector and (d) Government buildings with compact fluorescent lights.
Mr. Peter Morrison : No recent extensive studies related to lamp replacement have been carried out. However, my Department has supported several projects concerned with improved lighting design and control in commercial and public buildings under the energy efficiency office's energy efficiency demonstration scheme. These have demonstrated that cost effective energy savings of over 50 per cent. can be achieved.
Mr. Corbyn : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what steps are being taken to promote the sale and use of low-energy use and long-life electric bulbs.
Mr. Peter Morrison : The energy efficiency office promotes high efficiency lighting as part of its general promotion of energy efficiency measures. In addition, the lighting industry promotes energy efficient lighting as part of its commercial operations.
Nuclear Fuel (Electricity Reactors)
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will now list separately for each year from April 1980 to March 1986 the proportion of total annual throughput of nuclear fuel arising from electricity board reactors.
Mr. Michael Spicer : I have nothing to add to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member on 16 February 1988, at columns 591-92.
Nuclear Accidents (Compensation)
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he has yet responded to a recent letter from the Director General of the Confederation of British Industry requesting public sector liability for civil compensation in the event of a serious nuclear accident following privatisation of the electricity supply industry.
Mr. Michael Spicer : My right hon. Friend will be replying to Mr. Banham in due course.
Emission Controls (Crown Immunity)
Mr. Ashley : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will be seeking Crown immunity from prosecution for the institutions which are the responsibility of his Department when the anticipated new controls on emissions come into operation.
Mr. Parkinson : I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on Tuesday 29 November 1988 at column 178. My Department has no plans to seek removal of Crown immunity in relation to the proposed air pollution regulations.
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Electricity Supply (Privatisation)
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what departmental response has been made to the recent letter sent to his Department by John Baker, the Central Electricity Generating Board managing director and also chief executive designate of National Power, regarding the implication of costs transference to customers of nuclear power plant operation under privatisation of the electricity supply industry.
Mr. Michael Spicer : It is not Government practice to reveal the details of confidential correspondence.
Plutonium
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what assessment he has made on the desirability of large-scale plutonium shipments by sea in (a) surface vessels or (b) submarines from facilities in the United Kingdom ;
(2) if he will make a statement on the recently negotiated modification to annex B of the United States-Japan nuclear agreement regarding the sea shipment of separated plutonium outlining what he now regards as (a) the preferable and (b) the most likely transport arrangements for the return of separated plutonium to Japan after THORP is in service in 1992.
Mr. Michael Spicer : Transport options for returning the plutonium arising from the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel at THORP are still under consideration. Before any decision is taken all necessary safety and security aspects will be carefully considered.
Fawley B Power Station
Mr. Barron : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if, following the recent announcement to cancel plans to build Fawley B power station, the Central Electricity Generating Board has informed him of any revision in its overall nuclear and fossil fuel power station construction programme and electricity forecasts.
Mr. Michael Spicer : The CEGB's proposals to build a coal-fired power station at Fawley have not been cancelled. As my right hon. Friend announced to my hon. Friend the Member for Romsey and Waterside (Mr. Colvin) on 27 October 1988 at column 320 the CEGB has been given until 1 May 1989 to advise my right hon. Friend whether it wishes to proceed with the application.
I understand that in evidence to the Hinkley Point inquiry the CEGB has advised that its expected application to construct a PWR at Wylfa will not now be submitted until the spring of 1989. The board also advised the Hinkley Point inspector that its forecasts of electricity demand had increased to show a requirement for new capacity by the year 2000 of 15.5 GW.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
US President-elect
13. Mr. Andy Stewart : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he will meet the President-elect of the United States of America.
Sir Geoffrey Howe : I shall be taking an early opportunity to visit the United States of America to meet the new Administration.
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EC (Social Cohesion)
14. Mr. McTaggart : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps Her Majesty's Government will take to ensure that the European Community carries out its duty to promote social cohesion among its member countries.
Mrs. Chalker : The objectives of economic and social cohesion are set out in articles 130A and 130C of the treaty of Rome. To this end we have agreed to double the structural funds by 1993. Provision has been made for spending of 52 billion ecu (£34 billion at current prices) up to 1992 to be concentrated in the less developed regions of the Community.
Dr. Jonas Savimbi
15. Mr. Mudd : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on the recent initiatives of Dr. Jonas Savimbi of UNITA, calling for a cessation of hostilities without pre-conditions and a negotiated settlement.
Mrs. Chalker : I have seen press reports of Mr. Savimbi's statements. We would welcome any move to establish internal peace in Angola which had the support of both sides.
Namibia
16. Mr. Robert Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had on independence for Namibia under the United Nations Security Council resolution 435.
Mrs. Chalker : We have had discussions recently with
representatives of all the Governments involved in the United States-led negotiations for Cuban troop withdrawal from Angola and independence for Namibia. We are also in touch on a continuing basis with the UN Secretariat.
71. Mr. Tony Lloyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement regarding recent developments in the peace process in Namibia.
Mrs. Chalker : We have lent our full support to the United States- led negotiations. We warmly welcome the recent agreement on a timetable for Cuban troop withdrawal from Angola. We urge the parties to move forward quickly to implementation of the UN plan for Namibian independence.
Chile
17. Mr. Harry Barnes : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next expects to meet representatives of the Government of Chile.
98. Ms. Primarolo : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next expects to meet representatives of the Government of Chile.
Mr. Eggar : Neither my right hon. and learned Friend nor I have current plans to meet representatives of the Government of Chile. I met the Chilean Foreign Minister in Quito on 11 August. We have regular contact at official and ministerial level with the Chilean ambassador.
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35. Mr. Allen McKay : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of Chile concerning the continued imprisonment of political prisoners in that country.
64. Mr. Pike : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the government of Chile concerning the continued imprisonment of political prisoners in that country.
89. Mrs. Mahon : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the government of Chile concerning the continued imprisonment of political prisoners in that country.
Mr. Eggar : We take every opportunity in our contacts with the Chilean Government to discuss a wide range of human rights matters. Her Majesty's ambassador in Santiago does so frequently in his own contacts with the Chilean authorities.
Gibraltar
18. Mr. Colvin : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met the Chief Minister of Gibraltar ; and what was discussed.
Mrs. Chalker : My right hon. and learned Friend last met the Chief Minister of Gibraltar on 12 April. They discussed a wide range of subjects of mutual interest. My right hon. and learned Friend and I expect to see the Chief Minister when he is in London tomorrow.
Drugs (Caribbean)
19. Mr. Ian Bruce : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has received concerning the progress of anti-drug campaigns in the Caribbean.
Mr. Eggar : We are working to strengthen the Caribbean's defences against the threat of drugs, in close co-operation with regional Governments and with the Americans. We are providing assistance including training and equipment. I will be discussing progress with regional leaders at the Miami conference later this week.
Human Rights
20. Mr. Dykes : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress he can report from the Vienna review conference and the bilateral human rights talks held with the Soviets in June.
Mr. Waldegrave : On the Vienna review conference I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Chipping Barnet (Mr. Chapman) earlier today.
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The inaugural round of bilateral talks in June was a welcome opportunity for us to press the Russians both on individual cases of concern to us and on the need for fundamental changes to the Soviet system. Progress has been made on a number of individual cases since then, and some legal reforms have been promised. We shall continue to press on both fronts, including at the next round of bilateral talks due early next year.Mr. Ashley : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the names of each case listed in his answer to the hon. Member for Hendon, North (Mr. Gorst), Official Report, 1 November, column 547, and the number allocated to it by the European Commission of Human Rights ; and if he will also give the same information for cases relating to article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
Mrs. Chalker : The names of, and numbers allocated by the Commission to, the 23 cases listed in my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Hendon, North (Mr. Gorst) on 15 November 1988, are as follows. Where the Government are not aware that the applicant has informed the Commission that his or her identity may be disclosed the letter X is used.
Application number |Applicant's name |Date first introduced
|with Commission by
|applicant
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9471 |X | 3 October 1980
11756/85 |X |26 October 1982
11209/84, 11234/84, |Brogan, Coyle, |18 October 1984
11266/84 and | McFadden and
12009/86 |Gunnell |24 April 1985
11787/85 |Thynne | 3 June 1985
11978/86 |Wilson |10 September 1985
12000/86 |Weeks | 3 October 1985
12084/86 |X |30 May 1985
12391/86 |Di Stefano |14 October 1985
11932/86 |X | 5 December 1985
13228/87 |X |28 December 1985
13134/87 |Costello |17 January 1986
12769/87 |Stevens | 5 April 1986
12244-5/86 and |Fox, Campbell and |16 June 1986
12383/86 | Hartley
12816/87 |Vearncombe, Herbst |10 December 1986
| Clemens and
| Speilhagen
113163-5/87 |X |26 August 1987
13321/87 |X |12 October 1987
13447-8/87 |X |15 December 1987
14038/88 |X | 8 July 1988
Application number 12323/86 (Campbell), introduced on 5 July 1985, has been declared inadmissable by the Commission.
There are 22 cases pending before the Committee of Ministers, the Court or the Commission, in which the Government have submitted, or have been requested to submit, Observations on Article 8 of the convention.
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Number |Name |Date when first |Subject
|introduced with
|Commission by applicant
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9310/81 |Rayner and another |31 December 1980 |Noise
9511/81 |McCallum |31 August 1981 |Prisoner's correspondence
10454/83 |Gaskin |17 February 1983 |Local authority records
10461/83 |Chappell |11 October 1982 |Anton Piller order
10622/83 |X |13 September 1983 |Transsexual
10843/84 |X |14 February 1984 |Transsexual
11095/84 |X |16 August 1984 |Transsexual
11523/85 |Grace |27 March 1985 |Prisoner's correspondence
11745/85 |X |30 July 1985 |Interception
and 13595/88 |4 January 1988
11756/85 |X |26 October 1982 |Corporal punishment
12175/86 |X |4 September 1985 |Official information
12395/86 |Chester |10 March 1986 |Prisoner's correspondence
12327/86 |X |17 April 1986 |Official information
12492/86 |X |9 October 1986 |Immigration
12687/87 |X |10 December 1986 |Immigration
12769/87 |Stevens |5 April 1986 |Prison treatment
12816/87 |Vearncombe, Herbst, |10 December 1986 |Noise
|Clemens and Spielhagen
13078/87 |X |17 July 1987 |Immigration
13134/87 |Costello |17 January 1986 |Corporal punishment
13228/87 |X |28 December 1985 |Child care
13590/88 |Campbell |5 December 1985 |Prisoner's correspondence
13681/88 |Hocking |15 March 1988 |Local authority records
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