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Water
Dr. Cunningham : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give details of the locations of water quality sampling undertaken by South West Water for every day from 6 July 1988 until the latest available date.
Mr. Ridley : It is the responsibility of the South West water authority to take samples throughout its region in connection with its drinking water supply function : I am advised that it takes samples :
1. At raw water sources ;
2. At treatment works at different stages of the treatment process ;
3. Treated water at the exit from treatment works ;
4. At service reservoirs ;
5. Water in the distribution system at hydrants and customers' taps.
Between 6 July 1988 and 25 January 1989, a total of 25,544 samples were taken and analysed.
Mr. Goodlad : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what discussions he has held with the Water Authorities Association about stake-building by water authorities in statutory water companies ; and if he will make a statement ;
(2) what proportion of the Southern water authority's announced need for an increase in charges is accounted for by the necessity to fund the purchase of stock in statutory water companies ; (3) if he has reviewed the agreement between the Southern water authority and AIPF Ltd. ; and if he has assessed whether they are in the public interest ;
(4) how much has been committed by the Southern water authority to the purchase of stakes in statutory water companies ;
(5) what steps he is taking to assess whether the Southern water authority's acquisition of stakes in the Eastbourne, West Kent and Mid- Essex water companies are in the public interest ;
(6) what discussions he has had with the Southern water authority about its acquisition of stakes in the Eastbourne, West Kent and Mid Sussex water companies ; and if he will make a statement ; (7) what steps he has taken to (a) regulate and (b) influence the use of public money by water authorities to acquire (i) majority and (ii) minority stakes in statutory water companies ;
(8) if he has discussed with the Southern water authority the rate of return on its recent investment in the Folkestone water company ; and if he will make a statement ;
(9) if he has discussed with the Southern water authority the purpose for which it recently acquired a
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minority stake in the Folkestone water company ; if he has taken steps to assess whether the acquistion was in the public interest ; and if he will make a statement ;(10) what criteria water authorities are required to observe in the application of public moneys to the purchase of (a) majority and (b) minority stakes in statutory water companies ;
(11) what discussions he has held with the Southern water authority about its accountability for stake building in statutory water companies ; and if he will make a statement ;
(12) what place the acquistion of minority stakes in statutory water companies have occupied in the discussions on performance aim, financial targets, and external financial limits for the Southern water authority ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Moynihan : My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State regularly meets water authority chairmen, including the chairman of Southern water authority, to discuss all aspects of water policy. The general question of share purchase in statutory water companies has arisen on a number of occasions. It has been made clear to chairmen that there are three constraints : their statutory powers ; their external financing limits ; and mergers policy, including the special provisions for water mergers announced by my right hon. Friend on 11 January. It has also been made clear that we shall not increase external financing limits to accommodate purchases of water company shares. Against this background, it is for each water authority to decide whether, and under what arrangements, to purchase water company shares ; and to justify its actions.
Mr. Goodlad : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from the Southern water authority about its external financing limits.
Mr. Goodlad : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what direction he has given to the Southern water authority to reduce pollution to Chichester harbour.
Mr. Howard : My right hon. Friend has issued no direction to the Southern water authority in respect of pollution in Chichester harbour. Effluent discharges by the authority are controlled by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution, and the inspectorate has powers to vary and tighten discharge consent conditions where appropriate.
Mr. Goodlad : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what investments in statutory water
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companies have been made by, or on behalf of, any pension fund to which water authorities contribute public money ; if he is satisfied that any such investments produce a satisfactory rate of return for that pension fund ; what instructions he has given to investment managers of such pension funds in connection with the purchase of water company stocks ; and if he will place a copy of such instruction in the Library.Mr. Howard : Investments by or on behalf of pension funds are the responsibility of the managers of those funds. Consequently, it is for them to determine, with reference to the appropriate regulations, whether a particular investment forms an appropriate part of their portfolio. The Secretary of State has no information, beyond what is publicly available, about such investments of this kind which may have been made.
Rates
Dr. Hampson : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what would be the level of increase in expenditure which could be set by the Leeds city council in 1989-90 if the increase in the rates was kept within 5 per cent. and the council made the same use of balances as in 1988-89.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : It is estimated that, with a 5 per cent. increase in rates next year, Leeds city council could increase expenditure in 1989-90 by about 5 per cent. (£17 million), if it made the same use of balances as in 1988-89.
Development Plans
Miss Emma Nicholson : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to make an announcement about the Government's proposals for the development plan system.
Mr. Ridley : My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I have today published a White Paper setting out our proposals for the future of the development plan system in England and Wales (Cm. 569). These proposals, which reflect the outcome of the consultations undertaken in 1986-87, will improve the effectiveness of the development plan system by simplifying its structure and streamlining procedures for the adoption and review of plans. The strategic role of the counties will continue, but the present county structure plans will be replaced by statements of county planning policies, dealing with the key issues. The main feature of the new system will be a single tier development plan at district level. All district councils will be required to prepare development plans for the whole of their areas, consistent with national and regional guidance and with county policies. Similar arrangements will apply in the national parks. The necessary legislation will be introduced as soon as parliamentary time permits. The White Paper proposes a five-year timetable from commencement to full implementation of the new system.
A sound planning system is essential if we are to make realistic provision for homes and business while meeting the growing concern for protection of our environment in town and country. I believe that these proposals are a further significant step towards getting that difficult balance right. They will enable the planning system to serve the needs of the nation in the 1990s.
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Departmental Expenditure
Mr. Baldry : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on his Department's public expenditure plans, following publication of the White Paper setting out the Government's expenditure plans for 1989-90 to 1991-92 (Cm. 609).
Mr. Ridley : The White Paper explains in more detail my Department's plans for expenditure for 1989-90 to 1991-92, announced in summary at the time of the Autumn Statement, and gives comprehensive information about what we have achieved through our programmes in past years, and about our targets for the future. Housing
The Autumn Statement announced gross provision for housing capital expenditure in 1989-90 £441 million (12 per cent.) higher than previously planned. This increase has been made possible by the considerable success of the Government's right-to-buy policy. Receipts from the sale of local authority housing and land are on course to reach over £3,000 million, their highest level ever, with right-to-buy sales up by nearly 40 per cent. on last year, to an estimated 150,000.
This year's White Paper continues the trend established in previous years of offering more detailed information about the Government's housing programme. Particular emphasis has been placed on setting future targets for individual components of the programme, an emphasis which will be continued next year when the effects of new legislation have been absorbed. Information on the outputs already achieved has also been further developed, and should assist the reader in assessing public sector performance in the housing field. Housing associations
Within the overall increase in housing expenditure, a major feature of the Government's plans is the increasing role of the Housing Corporation in supporting the provision of new rented accommodation by housing associations. Approvals for rented accommodation are set to rise from the current level of 16,000 to over 24,000 in 1991-92. The resources available through the Housing Corporation are being increased by £75 million in 1989-90, with further increases planned in subsequent years to reach over £1.3 billion in 1991-92 (80 per cent. up on the original provision for this year). This increased investment will be further augmented by injections of private capital. Details of the corporation's approved development programme were given by my noble Friend the Minister for Housing on 14 December. The increased resources being made available over the next three years together with the expanding use of private finance will allow many more homes to be provided for those in need.
Local authority programmes
The local authority programme is focused on renovation of their stock. In 1988-89 some 160,000 local authority dwellings will undergo improvement compared with 150,000 in 1987-88. The 1986 English house condition survey, published recently, confirms the successful use of housing investment programme resources to the extent that 92 per cent. of the local authority- owned housing stock is in good repair. Planned expenditure by local authorities on their own housing capital programmes in 1989-90 will be £353 million (13 per cent.) higher than provided for in previous plans. After taking account of the substantially increased spending power available to local authorities from higher levels of receipts, HIP allocations
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for 1989-90 have been set at £920 million. Individual local authority allocations were announced by my noble Friend the Minister for Housing on 8 December 1988. Local authorities continue to spend an increasing proportion of their resources on the renovation of their housing stock, in line with Government policy.Estate Action
Estate Action's budget has been increased by 36 per cent. to £190 million in 1989-90. This programme continues to promote renovation and improved management, encouraging innovative solutions to the problems of physically run-down and difficult-to-let estates. Over 100,000 dwellings are now benefiting from Estate Action treatment. Housing action trusts
Last year, the Government announced a proposal to establish a number of housing action trusts as a pilot programme to tackle the worst areas of local authority housing. Following the identification of six potential HAT areas, consultants were appointed to report on their feasibility. The Government are now considering the consultants' reports. Net provision for HATs in 1989-90 is £68 million.
Other environmental services
Inner cities
My Department's inner cities programmes remain a very high priority. The key to successful inner cities regeneration is partnership between the public and private sector. Both the urban development corporations and the city grant programme are having considerable success in attracting private sector investment in their areas.
Urban development corporations
There are now 10 urban development corporations in England, Bristol being the latest to be set up this year. Public expenditure provision for UDCs is over £250 million in each of the next three years. Total resources available to UDCs will be even higher as increased receipts from the disposal of completed properties and sites are reinvested in the programmes. Priorities for 1989-90 have been set for the first and second generation UDCs. For example, in 1989 a start is planned on the Limehouse link road, the eastern extension of the London docklands light railway and on the development of Newcastle business park at Elswick. New measures will also be undertaken in other UDCs to further progress in housing, commercial and industrial development.
City grant
Since 1982, some £200 million of city grant and its predecessors have generated more than £800 million of private sector investment in the inner cities creating over 34,000 jobs and some 9,000 homes. To build on the momentum already achieved. City grant resources will increase by £23 million in 1989-90 and £28 million in 1990-91. Urban programme, and derelict land grant
Despite the increased emphasis on UDCs and city grant, planned expenditure by DOE on the urban programme and derelict land grant amounts to well over £200 million a year. In 1988-89 local authorities' inner area programmes supported by government grant, are forecast to create or preserve about 37,000 jobs and support about 55,000 training places. Since 1982 over 7,000 hectares of derelict land has been reclaimed with the aid of derelict land grant. The programme will continue to concentrate on the regeneration of urban industrial land thus also
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relieving development pressure on open land. Some 2,700 hectares of urban land are planned to be recovered for productive use in the next three years.New towns
The new towns programme in England is now moving into its final stages. The three remaining corporations are making good progress with the development of their towns and target dates for their wind up have been set. The disposal of commercial and industrial properties is continuing successfully and capital receipts now exceed gross capital expenditure by a substantial margin. Compared with last year's White Paper (Cm. 288) some increase has been provided in the resources available for capital investment in 1989-90 and over the plan period to facilitate wind-up and the increased disposals programme.
Countryside, recreation and environment
The Government is providing substantial resources for countryside agencies to further the process of creating a healthy rural economy, an attractive environment and to conserve wild life. The support for the Rural Development Commission will enable it to continue to help in the provision of a suitable range of viable job opportunities and services to meet the needs of rural communities. Additional resources have been provided for the Countryside Commission to continue its tree planting programme over the next three years. There are also extra resources to help start up in April 1989 the new Norfolk and Suffolk Broads Authority. The support for the Nature Conservancy Council will help protect valuable peatland habitats in Caithness and Sutherland, and enable NCC to conclude further 465 new management agreements with farmers and land owners to protect sites of special scientific interest. Continued support for the groundwork initiative will help extend the community based environment improvement schemes to other priority regions. Support for the Tidy Britain Group experimental clean-up projects has been more than doubled. The modest increase for the Sports Council will enable it to increase the range and quality of opportunities to participate in sports and physical recreations at all levels and to seek ways of attracting private sector investment into sports.
Environmental research
My Department's environmental research programme will be increased by £2.5 million in 1989-90 and 1990-91. The additional provision will support in particular research into the North sea marine environment, waste disposal, climatic change and water metering trials. Heritage
Planned expenditure on the heritage will be increased by £8 million in 1989-90, and £11 million in 1990-91 mainly for continued restoration of Hampton Court following the fire ; the first phase of Albert memorial restoration ; additional provision for Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission grants programme, and to provide for the cost of maintenance of the growing number of churches vested under the redundant churches scheme.
Local environmental services (current and capital)
An additional £110 million has been included in local authority current expenditure provision for 1989-90 for the costs of preparing for the implementation of the community charge ; this will be supported by a specific grant of £55 million with the remaining expenditure supported by block grant in the usual way. Provision for capital expenditure by local authorities for 1989-90 has been increased by £192 million to £819 million. This includes a further provision of £135 million in addition to
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£110 million mentioned above to enable local authorities to prepare for the community charge. Capital receipts generated by local authorities on LES are buoyant, and forecast receipts for 1989-90 have been revised upward by £203 million to £745 million.British Waterway Board
The BWB's external financing limit is increased to £48.3 million. The four-year action plan which the board has drawn up in line with its first and second responses to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission report on engineering operations will change BWB to a regionally managed, business- orientated organisation, seeking greater private sector investment.
Water authorities
As announced in the Autumn Statement, before the privatisation of their water supply and sewerage functions, the water authorities' responsibilities for the water environment will be taken over by the National Rivers Authority. £40 million has been allocated to the NRA in 1989-90 and £71 million in 1990-91. It is anticipated that increased receipts from direct charges will reduce the NRA's need for the Department's support to £65 million in 1991-92. The nine English regional water authorities will continue to require external finance in 1989-90 and provision of £10 million has been made, but their requirement will depend on the timing and cost to them of the establishment of the National Rivers Authority and of the privatisation itself. Investment by the regional water authorities has increased in constant price terms by over 50 per cent. since 1980-81 and is currently running at £1.1 billion. Further growth is assured to meet higher environmental and drinking water quality standards required by United Kingdom and EC legislation. The Water Bill will establish an independent director general of water services to protect the interests of consumers by ensuring proper standards of service and controlling prices. Provision has been made for the running costs of the water services offices of £2 million in 1989- 90 and £4 million each for the following two years.
Property services agency
The PSA's civil accommodation programme is planned to increase by a net £8 million in 1989-90 and £9 million in 1990-91 compared with previous plans. Extra spending of £65 million and £109 million will be offset by increases in capital receipts from disposals, in rents and in payments by other Departments through the property repayment services system. The agency's provision reflects the need to meet unavoidable rent increases as well as to maintain its new building programme and the increased level of maintenance activity agreed last year. It has also been given additional funds to prepare for the change to fully commercial operation in 1993. On PSA's separate parliamentary works programme additional funds have been provided for restoring the Victoria Tower, and for various minor improvements to the Palace of Westminster.
Cash Limits
Mr. Baldry : To ask the Secretary of State for the Evironmnt whether he has any changes to announce to his Department's cash limits for 1988-89.
Mr. Ridley : Yes. I propose the following changes, subject to parliamentay approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimates. The cash limit for class X, vote 2 (central environmental services, etc) will be increased by £3.013 million to
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£253.196 million to cover increased grant in respect of the new towns development corporations' roads programme. This will be partly offset by savings within the vote.The cash limit for class X, vote 4 (royal palaces, royal parks, historic buildings, ancient monuments and the national heritage) will be increased by £14.055 million from £91.201 million to £105.256 million mainly to cover a payment to the National Trust to terminate my Department's obligations under leases in relation to Ham house and Osterley house. This expenditure will be partly offset by savings within the vote.
The cash limit for class X, vote 5 (Department of the Environment : administration) will be increased by £0.733 million from £129.337 million to £130.070 million to take account of a receipt which will not arise in 1988-89 as originally expected. The Department of the Environment's running costs limit will be reduced by £0.182 million from £159.862 million to £159.680 million. This reduction reflects transfers of £0.017 million to the Cabinet Office : Office of the Minister for the Civil Service (class XX, vote 1) for the costs of recruitment under the direct entry grade 7 competition 1988, and of £0.165 million to the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys (class XX, vote 16) for increased expenditure by OPCS on services provided to my Department. The reduction in the DOE's limit will be offset by increases in the gross running costs limits for the other two Departments.
The cash limit for class X, vote 9 (Sale of shares in the water services public limited companies, etc) will be increased by £0.300 million from £5.140 million to £5.440 million to cover increased costs of advisors.
The non-voted cash limit for the new towns (DOE/NTI) has been reduced by £90.257 million from minus £389.743 million to minus £480 million to take account of disposals of property which are higher than previously forecast. This reduction offsets the increases above which will therefore not add to the planned total of public expenditure.
Capital Spending
Mr. Gordon Brown : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of gross and net public sector capital spending by his Department by both central Government and local authorities for 1988-89 and for each of the next three years at current prices and at constant 1987-88 prices.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley [holding answer 24 January 1989] : The following figures relate to the Department of the Environment's public expenditure programmes, housing and other environmental services. The figures for 1990-91 and 1991-92 are rounded to the nearest £10 million. Expenditure by public corporations is not shown.
3. DOE-Other environmental services
£ million
|1988-89 estimated outturn|1989-90 plans |1990-91 plans |1991-92 plans
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A. Central Government and local authority capital expenditure
in cash terms
Central Government
Gross |326 |441 |440 |440
Receipts |-1 |-3 |- |-
Net |324 |438 |440 |440
Local Authority
Gross |1,462 |1,058 |860 |860
Receipts |-825 |-745 |-840 |-840
Net |637 |312 |30 |20
B. Central Government and local authority capital expenditure`
1987-88 prices
Central Government
Gross |307 |396 |380 |370
Receipts |-1 |-3 |- |-
Net |305 |393 |380 |370
Local authority
Gross |1,376 |948 |750 |720
Receipts |-776 |-668 |-720 |-700
Net |600 |280 |20 |20
3. DOE-Other environmental services
£ million
|1988-89 estimated outturn|1989-90 plans |1990-91 plans |1991-92 plans
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A. Central Government and local authority capital expenditure
in cash terms
Central Government
Gross |326 |441 |440 |440
Receipts |-1 |-3 |- |-
Net |324 |438 |440 |440
Local Authority
Gross |1,462 |1,058 |860 |860
Receipts |-825 |-745 |-840 |-840
Net |637 |312 |30 |20
B. Central Government and local authority capital expenditure`
1987-88 prices
Central Government
Gross |307 |396 |380 |370
Receipts |-1 |-3 |- |-
Net |305 |393 |380 |370
Local authority
Gross |1,376 |948 |750 |720
Receipts |-776 |-668 |-720 |-700
Net |600 |280 |20 |20
Housing Action Trusts
Ms. Harman : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he plans to set up a housing action trust in the North Peckham and Gloucester Grove estates in Southwark.
Mr. Fraser : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he intends to proceed with his announced plans for a housing action trust scheme for the Loughborough and Angell town estates.
Mr. Trippier [holding answer 26 January 1989] : When he has had an opportunity to consider the findings of the consultants studying the proposed housing action trust areas, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will decide the next steps.
Government Offices
Mr. Redwood : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans are there (a) to move Government offices to the north and west of the United Kingdom and (b) to relocate some central London office staff to docklands or south of the river.
Mr. Brooke : I have been asked to reply.
Under the Government's relocation policy which I announced on 31 March 1988, at columns 610-611,
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Departments are reviewing the location of their work with a view to finding locations offering easier labour markets and other advantages. Departmental Ministers announce the outcome of such reviews after decisions have been taken, and since last March firm plans to transfer 1,800 posts from London and the south-east to the north and west of the United Kingdom have been announced ; target locations include Glasgow, Belfast, Wigan, Bath and Swindon. No similar announcements regarding moves within London to docklands and south of the river have been made.In addition, a further 160 posts are due to be transferred to Glasgow under the earlier dispersal programme.
DEFENCE
United States Submarines (Discharges)
Mr. Boyes : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will make a statement on the release of coolant from United States Navy submarines into the waters of Holy Loch in Strathclyde ; (2) on what dates United States Navy submarines, moored at Holy Loch, released coolant from nuclear reactor systems into the waters of the Holy Loch ; what was the total quantity of coolant released ; what was the average amount of radioactivity per litre of coolant released ; and whether any radioactive gases were released by United States Navy submarines on these occasions.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Dumbarton (Mr. McFall) on 24 January at column 555 .
Royal Navy Submarines (Discharges)
Mr. Boyes : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether any Royal Navy submarine had ever discharged any coolant from nuclear power systems directly into the sea.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Dumbarton (Mr. McFall) on 24 January at column 554.
New Nuclear Weapons
Mr. Caborn : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what substitutions for nuclear weapons withdrawn under the intermediate nuclear forces treaty are planned for both British and United States forces within the United Kingdom, on land and on ships based or calling at our ports ; and when it is intended to introduce these new nuclear weapons.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : There are no plans to substitute for the missiles withdrawn under the INF treaty, which only covered certain specific categories of missiles. The process of modernising and restructuring NATO's nuclear forces, to ensure that they remain effective, responsive and survivable, will not undercut in any way the real reduction in the Alliance's land-based nuclear weapons resulting from the treaty. NATO will continue to maintain only the minimum level of forces consistent with credible deterrence. NATO's nuclear stockpile in Europe is now at its lowest level for 20 years, having been reduced by some
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35 per cent. since 1979 ; it will reduce even further when the INF treaty is fully implemented. Decisions on modernisation and restructuring will be taken as and when necessary.New Ships
Mr. Allason : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many new ships the Royal Navy will order in the current year.
Mr. Sainsbury : I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Members for Newcastle-upon-Tyne East (Mr. Brown) and for Wallsend (Mr. Garrett) 29 November 1988 at column 217 regarding frigate orders. The Government also expect to place an order for SSBN-07 later this year.
In addition, although orders are not envisaged for this year, tenders have also been invited for an aviation support ship and we are in the process of evaluating the results of competitive feasibility studies for a possible replacement for the assault ships Fearless and Intrepid.
Ships (Scrapping)
Mr. Allason : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will delay the scrapping of HMS Arethusa and HMS Euryalus while HMS Penelope and HMS Southampton are out of action.
Mr. Sainsbury : The repair of HMS Penelope is expected to be completed before the disposal of Arethusa and Euryalus. As to Southampton, I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Newcastle-upon-Tyne, East (Mr. Brown) on 10 January 1989 at column 675 .
Expenditure
Mr. Nellist : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list in the Official Report the precise amounts paid by his Department in the year 1985-86 to (a) The General Electric Co. plc., (b) Rolls-Royce Ltd., (c) British Telecommunications plc., (d) Lucas Industries plc., (e) BTR plc., (f) Austin Rover Group Ltd., (g) Dunlop Holdings plc., (h) United Scientific Holdings plc., (i) Courtaulds plc., and (j) Massey-Ferguson Holdings Ltd.
Mr. Sainsbury : The payments made to each of these companies in the year ended 31 March 1986 in respect of headquarters contracts were as follows :
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