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Legionella
Mr. Butler : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give details of the findings for the last time that the water systems of the Houses of Parliament were tested for legionella.
Mr. Chope [holding answer 9 February 1989] : The cooling towers for the air conditioning system and the standby generator serving the underground car park are dosed regularly to minimise microbiological contamination, and the water quality is bacteriologically tested every month by an approved specialist contractor. The most recent sample, taken on 9 January 1989, was satisfactory. No separate routine testing is undertaken specifically for legionella alone.
Landfill
Mr. Hoyle : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will revoke the licences of Colliers Industrial Waste in the light of evidence of unauthorised dumping of unsuitable waste at landfill sites.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley [holding answer 9 February 1989] : Revocation of any disposal licence is a matter for a waste disposal authority to decide under section 7(4) of the Control of Pollution Act 1974.
Mr. Butler : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what monitoring arrangements are in place to regulate the disposal of clinical wastes in private sector landfill.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley [holding answer 9 February 1989] : Monitoring arrangements for the disposal of controlled waste, including clinical waste, are matters for waste disposal authorities under part I of the Control of Pollution Act 1974, with advice and guidance from Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution.
Water Charges
Mr. Madden : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, what representations he has received about arrangements for rebate of water charges and standing charges for those on low incomes.
Mr. Colin Moynihan : We have had no recent formal representations from consumer groups about rebates on water charges for people on low incomes.
Football Grounds (Minister's Visits)
Mr. Wareing : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list (a) the Football League
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grounds, and (b) the Football League matches visited by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State since his appointment in his capacity as the Minister with responsibility for sport.Mr. Moynihan [holding answer 19 January 1989] : I have attended the following Football League matches since my appointment as Minister for Sport :
Charlton Athletic v . Arsenal--3 October 1987
Tottenham Hotspur v . Wimbledon--31 October 1987
Charlton Athletic v . Chelsea--20 December 1987
Manchester United v . Charlton--1 January 1988
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Luton Town v . Derby County--16 January 1988Charlton Athletic v . Liverpool--23 January 1988
Hartlepool United v . Crewe Alexandra--27 February 1988 Derby County v . Arsenal--26 March 1988
Charlton Athletic v . Newcastle United--23 April 1988
Millwall v . Newcastle United--19 November 1988
Charlton Athletic v . Luton Town--14 January 1989
I have also attended international matches and a number of matches between league clubs in other competitions.
In addition I have visited the grounds of Reading FC, Liverpool FC and Aston Villa FC on non-match days.
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ENERGY
Wind Energy
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what progress has been made at the experimental wind turbine sites at (a) Langdon common, (b) Capel Cynon and (c) Cold Northcott.
Mr. Michael Spicer : At the proposed experimental wind turbine site at Capel Cynon, developments are proceeding and an anemometry mast is expected to be erected on the site before the end of this month. Negotiations are also proceeding between the CEGB and the landowners and it is expected that section 2 consent under the Electric Lighting Act 1909 will be sought later this year.
At the Langdon common and Cold Northcott sites, negotiations are continuing between the CEGB, local landowners and other interested parties, in relation to planning permission.
Uranium
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will set out his policy towards the flag-swapping and origin-swapping of uranium, with regard to the application of international safeguards ; and if he is satisfied with the interpretation of flag and origin-swapping made by (a) the Euratom supply agency in Brussels and (b) the Euratom safeguards divison in Luxembourg.
Mr. Michael Spicer : We follow internationally accepted practices of accounting for nuclear material. These reflect the fact that conversion and fabrication of uranium oxide is a continuous process in which materials of different origin are routinely blended and lose their identity and that it is not therefore feasible to trace the origin of any particular batch of nuclear material. Moreover, exchanges of safeguards obligations (flag- swapping) do not affect the origin of nuclear material.
The Euratom supply agency and the Euratom safeguards office do not accept origin swaps but accept that the established practice of exchanging safeguards obligations in respect of nuclear material is compatible with proper safeguards. The Government share this view.
Wave Energy
Mr. Home Robertson : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many navigation lights and radar reflectors could be mounted on an offshore wave device.
Mr. Michael Spicer : The number of navigation lights and radar reflectors which could be mounted on an offshore wave energy device would depend upon the size of the device.
Mr. Home Robertson : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the impact of the reported increase in Atlantic wave amplitudes on the economics of wave energy.
Mr. Michael Spicer : Any established trend in changes to Atlantic wave amplitudes would need to be taken into account when assessing the economics of wave energy. Wave conditions affect both device productivity and capital cost.
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Mr. Home Robertson : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) if he will list those contracts on wave energy research in which final signatures of the papers by the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority officials was more than six months after the start of the contract and if he will give the length of delay in each instance ; (2) if he will list the number and amounts of payments for work on wave energy in which the settlement of the invoice by the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority was more than six months after the submission of the invoice ; and if he will give the length of delay in each case.
Mr. Michael Spicer : This information can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Home Robertson : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) if he will explain his Department's concern about the risks which could be posed to shipping by offshore wave power devices ; (2) if he will make a statement on the environmental problems associated with offshore wave devices on water of 100 m depth off the west coast of Scotland ; and whether such devices would be visible from the shore.
Mr. Michael Spicer : The possible risks to shipping and environmental aspects including visual amenity of offshore wave energy devices were discussed in section 13 of the report on wave energy by the energy technology support unit, ETSU R26. This report was published in 1985 and copies were placed in the Library of the House.
Mr. Home Robertson : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will compensate wave energy researchers for the consequences of any inaccurate comments by his officials concerning their work.
Mr. Michael Spicer : The wave energy programme was redirected as part of the Department of Energy's continuing assessment of the priorities for renewable research and development and no question of compensation arises.
Mr. Home Robertson : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what length would be required of the most productive type of offshore wave device, as identified by his Department's consultants in their report of June 1983 and by subsequent analysis of reliability by Dr. Taylor at ETSU, to generate electricity output equivalent to that of Sizewell B on the basis of (a) peak output and (b) mean annual output, on the assumption that Sizewell B will operate on a capacity factor equivalent to that of existing Central Electricity Generating Board nuclear plant.
Mr. Michael Spicer : If such an offshore wave device could be developed and if such a comparison were meaningful the approximate lengths would be :
(a) 25 km.
(b) 50 km.
Mr. Home Robertson : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for East Lothian, 20 January, Official Report, column 343, if he will publish the recent correspondence between the manager of his Department's wave programme, Mr. Peter Davies, and Professor Salter, relating to the circulation of papers to the wave energy steering committee.
Mr. Michael Spicer : My Department is not aware of any recent correspondence between Mr. Peter Davies and Professor Salter.
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North Sea Oil
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy at what date he expects the North sea oil industry to be back to full production ; what efforts he is taking to overcome the loss of output due to recent accidents ; what measures he is taking to encourage the economic replacement of this lost production ; what has been the cost to date to the Exchequer ; what is the estimated total cost ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Peter Morrison : The Government have created the conditions which encourage the exploration and development of our North sea. Despite low oil prices, commitment to new investment is at its highest level for more than four years, and exploration activity is currently at a record level. Up to the end of January production of some 9.5 million tonnes, worth some £670 million at today's prices, has been deferred as a result of the recent accidents. It is too early to say when all this production will be resumed and hence to estimate the final cost.
CEGB (South Yorkshire)
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will ask the Central Electricity Generating Board to list by location and type its total landholdings in the county of South Yorkshire to date.
Mr. Michael Spicer : I refer to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member on 3 February at column 424 .
Hinkley Point
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy, what policy considerations underlay his decision not to present evidence to the Hinkley Point C public inquiry on (a) plutonium production and end use, (b) radioactive waste management and (c) safeguarding of nuclear materials arising from Hinkley Point C, if built.
Mr. Michael Spicer : My right hon. Friend made an official witness available to the Hinkley Point C inquiry to provide any necessary clarification of Government policy as set out in his answer of 17 December 1987 to my hon. Friend the Member for Wells (Mr. Heathcoat-Amory) and in the White Paper "Privatising Electricity" (Cm. 322), in particular paragraphs 44-49. Such clarification therefore formed the basis of the departmental witness's proof of evidence.
At the inquiry and in correspondence arising from his appearance, the departmental witness answered questions on a wide range of issues including on matters raised at (a) and (c) in the question. Radioactive waste management is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Environment on whose behalf evidence is being separately presented to the inquiry by an official witness from the Department of the Environment.
Greenhouse Effect
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy, if he will obtain a copy of the report by Bill Keepin and Gregory Kats entitled "Greenhouse Warning : A Rationale for Nuclear Power", for his Department's library ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Parkinson : The Department's library has made arrangements to obtain a copy of the report.
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Electricity Prices
Mr. Hunter : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what were electricity prices for consumers of 40 MW/8,000 hours supply, 10 MW/6,000 hours supply and 4 MW/4,000 hours supply, expressed in pence/kWh, in each European Community country in each quarter of 1988 ; (2) if he will make a statement on the competitive position of United Kingdom electricity consumers of 40 MW/8,000 hours supply and 10 MW/6,000 hours supply, in relation to similar consumers in other European Community countries ;
(3) what is his policy with regard to future electricity price increases affecting United Kingdom consumers of 40 MW/8,000 hours supply and 10 MW/6,000 hours supply and the effect on the United Kingdom's competitive position.
Mr. Michael Spicer : The Department does not collate information in the form requested. The following table shows industrial electricity prices in the European Community for a range of consumption patterns. It shows that industrial electricity prices in England and Wales are in the mid- range of prices in the European Community. After privatisation large industrial consumers will be able to take advantage of the new competitive environment to purchase electricity from the cheapest available source.
Prices in pence/kWh as
at 1 July 1988
Maximum demand 2.5MW 10MW
Load factor |40 per cent.|60 per cent.|80 per cent.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Belgium |4.07 |3.09 |2.59
Denmark |2.38 |2.00 |1.71
France |3.72 |2.85 |2.57
Germany |6.23 |4.90 |4.34
Greece |4.46 |3.89 |3.42
Ireland |4.23 |3.47 |3.22
Italy |4.57 |3.23 |2.61
Luxembourg |3.96 |3.27 |2.90
Netherlands |3.14 |2.84 |2.55
Portugal |4.78 |4.02 |3.76
Spain |4.76 |4.35 |3.86
England and Wales |4.20 |3.61 |3.37
Source: International Electricity Prices Quarterly, Electricity
Council, October 1988.
Open University
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when his Department obtained the two Open university documents which he agreed to procure in his reply to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy, Official Report, 12 February 1988, column 394 ; and what cost was incurred by his Department in their procurement.
Mr. Parkinson : The Department's library acquired a copy of Open university research group report, "Reflections on Britain's Nuclear History, A conversation with Lord Minton" by David Lowry, in February 1988 at a cost of £9. Dr. Lowry's thesis, "Nuclear Powers--An Assessment of Nuclear Decision Making, 1932-1979, with Special Reference to the Anglo- American Atomic Relationship", is not commercially published. It is available on loan from the Open university and was borrowed by the Department's library in March 1988.
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ATTORNEY-GENERAL
Legal Profession (Green Paper)
66. Mr. Favell : To ask the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on the response to the Green Papers on the legal profession.
The Attorney-General : No. The papers are discussion documents, on which comments have been invited by 2 May 1989. These responses will be considered once the consultation period has elapsed.
George Blake (Escape)
69. Mr. Bowis : To ask the Attorney-General what discussions he has had with the Director of Public Prosecutions regarding the escape from prison of George Blake and the subsequent confessions by named individuals.
The Attorney-General : The matter is under investigation by the police at the request of the director, who is keeping me informed.
SCOTLAND
Crossroad Attendant Schemes
Mr. McLeish : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the total number of crossroad attendant schemes payments and plans available in (a) August 1988, (b) January 1989 and (c) estimated for March 1989 or on similar dates for which information is readily available.
Mr. Lang : Comprehensive information on payments to crossroads care attendant schemes is not available. Some crossroads schemes participate in employment training as sub-contractors. Some previously participated in the community programme on the same basis. The Training Agency is not directly involved in funding arrangements between training managers and sub- contractors. However, under the community programme payments totalling £77,615 were made in August 1988 to nine crossroads schemes directly contracted to the Training Agency.
Health boards and local authorities have powers to make grants to voluntary organisations such as crossroads but no records are held centrally of the sums paid by them to individual recipients.
Employment Training
Mr. McLeish : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the organisations which have made representations about the impact of employment training on voluntary sector projects.
Mr. Lang : The organisations which have made representations about the implications of employment training for voluntary sector projects are set out below :
Aberdeen District Council
Aberdeen Youth Information Centre
Age Concern Scotland
A & M Projects
Apex Trust, Glasgow
Bearsden and Milngavie District Council
Beith Pre-School Nurseries
Bonhill Community Organisation
Brechin Day Centre
Castlemilk Family Support Group
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Central Edinburgh Resource TeamCharities Experiment and Church Action with the Unemployed Convention of Scottish Local Authorities
Crossroads Care Attendant Schemes
Dalmuir Day Centre
Disablement Income Group
Dumfries and District Women's Aid
Dundee Association for Social Services
Dundee District Council
Dundee Liaison Committee on Homelessnes
East Irvine Nursery Action Group
Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce
Edinburgh District Council
Educational Institute of Scotland
Erskine Community Council
Forfar Day Centre
George Inn Lane Centre
Gingerbread
Girvan Community Council
Glasgow Council for Voluntary Services
Glasgow District Council
Glencryan Resource Centre, Cumbernauld
Gourock Community Organisation
Gourock Day Centre
Hamilton Organisation Platform for the Elderly
Heatsave
Heatwise
Heckling Shop, Irvine
Inverurie Advice and Information Centre
Kilbirnie Pre-School Nurseries
Kilmacolm Day Centre
Kinross Day Centres
Kirriemuir Day Centre
Liberton Area Handicapped Association
Lochaber District Council
Montrose Day Centre
Murray Community Transport, East Kilbride
National Association of Local Government Officers
National Schizophrenia Fellowship
Old Kilpatrick Community Council
Open Door Club Lodging House, Glasgow
Possilpark Anti Vandalism Project
Renfrew District Council
Renfrew District Disability Council
Royston Youth Action Committee, Glasgow
Scottish Association for Mental Health
Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations
Scottish Trades Union Congress
Springburn Single Parent Association
Standing Forum on Special Employment Measures
Strathclyde Elderly Forum
Strathclyde Regional Council
Tayside Services Liaison Committee on Alcohol
Tidy Britain Group
Training Services Ayrshire Ltd
Transport and General Workers Union
Wester Hailes Representative Council
Whiteinch Day Centre
Wintercare Scheme, Inverclyde
Wishart Centre, Dundee
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