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Column 493
Written Answers to Questions
Tuesday 21 March 1989
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
European Regional Development Fund (Stockport)
Mr. Andrew F. Bennett : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) if he will give an assurance of the availability of funding from central Government for projects eligible for funding under objective 2 of the European regional development fund, in Stockport ;
(2) what projects he has identified as eligible for funding from the European regional development fund, in Stockport ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Atkins : Stockport's eligibility for European regional development fund assistance, as part of Greater Manchester county, is subject to the Commission's confirmation of its provisional objective 2 list. My Department and the Department of the Environment will consider with the local authorities and other interests concerned what projects should be proposed to the Commission for support from the ERDF, and the manner in which it will be sought. Decisions on use of the fund rest with the Commission. Central Government funding will depend upon the nature of the projects eventually agreed.
Tanzania
Mr. Win Griffiths : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) what the total level of imports into the European Community from Tanzania has been for each of the last 10 years at constant 1987 prices ; and what the level of exports from the European Community to Tanzania has been for each of the last 10 years at constant 1987 prices ;
(2) what the total level of imports into the United Kingdom from Tanzania has been for each of the last 10 years at constant 1987 prices ; and what the level of exports from the United Kingdom to Tanzania has been for each of the last 10 years at constant 1987 prices.
Mr. Alan Clark : Data are not available at constant prices. The information at current prices is in the following table :
|c|European Community and United Kingdom trade
with Tanzania|c|
ECU millions
EC (12) United Kingdom
|imports|exports|imports|exports
------------------------------------------------
1978 |218 |428 |76 |169
1979 |225 |391 |73 |188
1980 |221 |428 |68 |185
1981 |206 |364 |45 |149
1982 |226 |385 |38 |127
1983 |267 |327 |75 |109
1984 |322 |406 |73 |106
1985 |264 |444 |74 |149
1986 |290 |329 |67 |93
1987 |187 |356 |45 |128
1988 |n/a |n/a |37 |131
Note:
Figures are on the special trade basis which
for most purposes may be defined as trade
excluding imports for re-export.
Source: EUROSTAT.
Brewing Industry (Report)
Mr. Crowther : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he now expects the Monopolies and Mergers Commission report on the brewing industry to be published.
Mr. Maude : The Government have today published and laid in both Houses copies of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission report on the supply of beer. The MMC's examination, conducted over two and a half years, has been thorough and comprehensive. We welcome it. The MMC has found that there is a complex monopoly situation in the supply of beer. This relates to the brewers' relationship with the on-licensed, "tied" premises they own --both managed and tenanted--and the offering of low-interest loans to the "free" trade. The MMC concludes that this complex monopoly restricts competition at all levels, against the public interest.
Currently the brewers restrict competition in two main ways. First, they restrict the supply of drinks by competing brewers and wholesalers to the on-licensed premises they own. The six big brewers produce three quarters of all beer brewed in the United Kingdom and own 74 per cent. of all tied houses. Second, the brewers have effectively captured about half of the "free houses" by offering preferential and low-interest loans, which then tie those outlets to selling the brewers' products. The present system severely limits the opportunities for an independent wholesaling sector to prosper. The result is that both wholesale and retail prices are higher than they need to be.
The MMC believes that lack of competition has resulted in a number of detriments. The main ones are :
--the price of a pint of beer in a public house has risen too fast in the last few years ;
--the high price of lager is not justified by the cost of producing it ;
--the variation in wholesale prices between regions of the country is excessive ;
--consumer choice is restricted because one brewer does not usually allow another brewer's beer to be sold in the outlets which he owns : this restriction often happens in loan-tied outlets as well ; --consumer choice is further restricted because of brewers' efforts to ensure that their own brands of cider and soft drinks are sold in their outlets ;
--tenants are unable to play a full part in meeting consumer preferences, both because of the tie and because the tenant's bargaining position is so much weaker than his landlord's ; and --independent manufacturers and wholesalers of beer and other drinks are allowed only limited access to the on-licensed market. The MMC believes that structural changes are needed to secure a more competitive regime. Its recommendations include :
--a ceiling of 2,000 on the number of on-licensed premises which any brewer may own ;
--no new tied loans ;
--no restrictions on future use, or product ties, when on-licensed premises are sold ;
--tied tenants to be brought within the protection of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 ;
--tied tenants to be free to sell at least one "guest" draught beer ;
--tied tenants to be free to buy non-alcohol or low
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alcohol beers, wines, spirits, ciders, soft drinks and mineral waters from the most competitive suppliers ;--brewers to publish and adhere to wholesale price lists. These recommendations point very much in the right direction. They will preserve the good features of the present system. They should create more opportunities for small brewers. They should allow much stronger development of an independent wholesaling sector. They should provide more choice for publicans in the way they finance and run their businesses. And, not least, they should provide a much wider choice for consumers in the range of licensed premises available, and in the range of drinks on sale. This extra competition should benefit prices.
My right hon. and noble Friend has considered the report in full and is minded to implement these recommendations. His first step will be to hold discussions with the EC and he has written to Sir Leon Brittan today.
We welcome the European Commission review, announced last week, into the competitive situation in the EC wide market for beer. The MMC's findings and conclusions will clearly serve as a major input into the review.
Ivory
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list for each of the last three years imports, by value and volume and by country of origin, of ivory and ivory products.
Mr. Alan Clark : The available information is given in the following tables. Data on unworked ivory are not available before 1988.
Table 1
|c|United Kingdom imports of worked ivory 1986-87|c|
1986 1987
|KG |£ |KG |£
---------------------------------------------------------
Hong Kong |374 |156,128|436 |188,287
India |690 |58,626 |91 |18,658
China |551 |12,495 |- |-
Kenya |- |- |84 |11,168
United Kingdom |1 |6,890 |4 |6,462
Central African
Republic |41 |6,255 |- |-
Burundi |- |- |14 |3,210
United States of
America |51 |3,188 |1 |1,022
Zimbabwe |63 |2,864 |12 |2,647
Sudan |- |- |5 |2,677
Switzerland |- |- |10 |2,430
Thailand |1 |2,136 |- |-
Tanzania |- |- |143 |2,117
South Africa |- |- |12 |1,773
Singapore |3 |1,255 |- |-
Japan |5 |631 |- |-
Ivory Coast |5 |616 |- |-
Cameroon |12 |483 |30 |483
Table 2
|c|United Kingdom imports of worked ivory 1988|c|
|KG |£
----------------------------------------------------
Hong Kong |237 |111,492
China |214 |28,448
India |1,531 |25,263
Federal Republic of Germany |2,453 |10,194
South Africa |26 |6,390
Malaysia |1,286 |6,211
Italy |1,358 |4,917
Philippines |916 |4,369
Japan |9 |4,157
Kenya |15 |3,610
United Kingdom |1 |2,500
New Zealand |1 |833
Table 3
|c|United Kingdom imports of unworked ivory
1988|c|
|KG |£
-------------------------------------------------
South Africa |7,766 |243,507
Zimbabwe |853 |105,061
Zaire |1,026 |42,318
Malawi |234 |32,690
Kenya |293 |19,349
Central African Republic |84 |8,401
Belgium-Luxembourg |83 |8,078
Tanzania |1,800 |5,147
Mozambique |13 |3,409
Ethiopia |9 |1,983
Tropical Forestry Management
Mr. Crowther : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he expects to be able to make a statement on the scheme proposed by the Timber Trade Federation for an import surcharge to finance tropical forestry management through the International Tropical Timber Organisation.
Mr. Alan Clark : The proposal for an import levy which has been put forward by the timber trades in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom has a number of implications, including European Community and GATT. We are considering these within the context of our overall approach to the problem of the depletion of the rain forests.
National Engineering Laboratory
Mr. Ingram : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the number and category of employees in post at the national engineering laboratory, East Kilbride at May 1988 and February 1989.
Mr. Forth [holding answer 20 March 1989] : The number and category of employees in post at the national engineering laboratory, East Kilbride at 31 May 1988 and 28 February 1989 are :
|31 May 1988 |28 February 1989
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Science and technical |355" |332
Industrial |154 |145
Other (administrative) |109 |102
|---- |----
Total |618" |579
Civil Servants (EC)
Mr. Cryer : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the number of civil servants in his Department whose main task is work related wholly or mainly to the European Economic Community ; and what is the gross annual cost of travel and accommodation to and from Brussels, Luxembourg and Strasbourg in connection with this work.
Mr. Forth [holding answer 15 March 1989] : Work connected with the EC involves a great many staff in the
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Department since the development of the single European market influences a large and increasing proportion of the DTI's work. It is not possible except at disproportionate cost to provide disaggregated figures in the form requested.EDUCATION AND SCIENCE
Sex Education
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the scope of the very restricted circumstances referred to in the guidelines in his Department's document circular No. 11/87 entitled "Sex Education at School", page 197, paragraph 20(i).
Mr. Butcher : Section 6 of the Sexual Offences Act 1956 provides that it is not a criminal offence for a man or boy to have sexual intercourse with a girl under the age of 16 in the following circumstances :
where he believes that she is over 16 and that he is legally married to her, although the marriage is in fact null under section 2 of the Marriage Act 1949 by reason of her age ;
in the case of a man or boy under the age of 24 who has not previously been charged with such an offence, if he believes on reasonable grounds that the girl is 16 or older.
Teachers
Mr. Thornton : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what information is available to his Department, for each year since 1986, regarding the number and proportion of all recruits to teaching in maintained schools who were re-entrant qualified teachers ; and if he will make a statement ;
(2) what number and proportion of all recruits to teaching in maintained schools in each year 1985 to 1988 were re-entrant qualified teachers ; whether there is any significant difference in these proportions between the primary and secondary sectors ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Butcher : Estimates of entrants and re-entrants to teaching are derived from the database of teacher records, maintained by the Department to administer the teachers' superannuation scheme. The latest information available relates to the year ending March 1986. The figures for England for that and the previous year are :
Year ending March
|1985 |1986
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Re-entrants to maintained nursery and
primary schools
number |6,890 |7,670
as a percentage of all entrants to these
schools |65 per cent.|63 per cent.
Re-entrants to maintained secondary
schools
number |6,210 |6,480
as a percentage of all entrants to these
schools |45 per cent.|47 per cent.
Re-entrants to all maintained nursery,
primary and secondary schools
number |13,100 |14,150
as a percentage of all entrants to these
schools |53 per cent.|55 per cent.
The higher proportion of re-entrants to nursery and primary schools reflects in part the greater number of women teachers in these compared to secondary schools.
Mr. Thornton : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information is available to his Department regarding the subject qualifications of qualified teachers returning to employment in maintained schools in recent years ; whether any trends are discernible in the numbers of returners in shortage subjects ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Butcher : Estimates of re-entrants to teaching are derived from the database of teacher records, maintained by the Department to administer the teachers' superannuation scheme. This database contains information on the degree subjects of graduate teachers, but not on the subjects of other qualifications including initial or in-service teacher training. The latest information relates to the year ending March 1986. The figures for re- entrants to maintained secondary schools in England in that year are :
|Number
--------------------------------------------------------------
All re-entrants to maintained secondary schools |6,480
Graduate re-entrants |3,420
Of which, number whose degree subject is:
Mathematics |240
Physics |110
Other sciences |530
Geography |210
Economics and other social sciences |270
English |510
History |280
Modern languages |420
Other subjects |850
Non-graduate re-entrants |3,070
With regard to the shortage subjects, the number of re-entrant mathematics and physics graduates in the previous year (ending March 1985) were 200 and 110 respectively. No inferences about the number of re-entrants with CDT qualifications are possible from these data, because very few of these qualifications will be in the form of degrees.
Inner London (Administration)
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give the total estimated administrative costs of education for each of the inner London boroughs for the year 1991 as estimated by the borough's development plans ; and how many administrative posts within education in each inner London borough will attract a salary of over £30,000.
Mrs. Rumbold : The development plans of most of the inner London councils do not separately identify the administrative costs of running their education services from April 1990 ; this is a matter that will be raised by the Department in the context of discussions with each council. Nor do the development plans contain information on salary levels.
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City Technology College, Lambeth
Mr. Fraser : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has any plans to establish a city technology college in Lambeth.
Mr. Butcher : We have received no proposals as yet from sponsors wishing to establish a city technology college in Lambeth. However, I understand that the Philip and Pauline Harris trust has approached the London borough of Croydon about the establishment of a city technology college in the premises of the Sylvan high school ; that Croydon is considering publishing proposals under section 12 of the Education Act 1980 to close the school to enable it to do so ; and that, subject to my right hon. Friend approving those proposals, the city technology college's catchment area would include parts of Lambeth.
Inner London (Teacher Shortage)
Mr. Fraser : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what communications he has received from the governors of Loughborough junior school, London SW9 ; and what reply he has sent on the subject of teacher shortages in inner London.
Mr. Butcher : The Department has received a letter from the chair of governors of Loughborough JMI school about the shortage of teachers at the school. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the Department's reply.
Teachers (Pensions)
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will take steps to make the pensions payable to the widowers of women teachers the equal of those payable to the widows of men teachers with the same service ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Butcher : Widowers' benefits were introduced into the teachers' superannuation scheme with effect from 6 April 1988 and service from that date counts automatically for that purpose. Subsequent actuarial valuations of the scheme will take the cost of such benefits into account in determining the normal contribution rate. Women teachers can elect to cover service before 6 April 1988 on terms better than those offered to men teachers in similar circumstances in 1972.
Eastern Amazonia
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what research he is funding in British universities on the consequences for the physics of the world climate of forest-burning, dam building and cattle-ranch clearing in eastern Amazonia ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Jackson : Research funded by the NERC on global climate change is already extensive and the additional resources announced will enable increased activity to be undertaken. Universities may also undertake relevant research within the substantial general funds put at their disposal by the Universities Funding Council.
Student Loans
Mr. Andrew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will provide calculations on
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the cost and savings of the top-up loans scheme, as illustrated in annex E of the White Paper in respect of (a) net change in grant, (b) net change in benefits, (c) gross loan outlay, (d) loan repayments and (e) public sector borrowing requirement effect for each of the years from 1990 to 2027, as in annex E of Cm 520, on the basis of (a) 90 per cent. take-up and (b) 100 per cent. take-up of the student loans scheme.Mr. Jackson : The costs and savings arising from top-up loans, calculated on the assumptions used in Cm 520, are shown below for the different take-up levels specified. Also shown, for comparison, is the effect of the 80 per cent. take-up level assumed in Cm 520.
(£ million, 1990 prices)
|Net change in grant |Net change in benefits|Gross loan outlay |Loan repayments |PSBR effect
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
80 per cent. take up
1990 |0 |-65 |167 |0 |103
1991 |-22 |-65 |193 |-2 |105
1992 |-42 |-64 |216 |-9 |103
1993 |-61 |-63 |236 |-21 |93
1994 |-78 |-61 |255 |-39 |78
1995 |-95 |-59 |275 |-62 |59
1996 |-112 |-59 |297 |-83 |42
1997 |-131 |-62 |324 |-102 |30
1998 |-152 |-63 |356 |-119 |22
1999 |-172 |-65 |385 |-131 |17
2000 |-190 |-65 |410 |-142 |13
2001 |-206 |-65 |429 |-155 |2
2002 |-222 |-65 |450 |-176 |-14
2003 |-236 |-65 |469 |-192 |-25
2004 |-251 |-65 |488 |-203 |-31
2005 |-266 |-65 |506 |-211 |-37
2006 |-280 |-65 |523 |-217 |-39
2007 |-293 |-65 |541 |-220 |-39
2008 |-293 |-65 |541 |-231 |-39
2009 |-293 |-65 |541 |-251 |-69
2010 |-293 |-65 |541 |-275 |-94
2011 |-293 |-65 |541 |-296 |-113
2012 |-293 |-65 |541 |-313 |-130
2013 |-293 |-65 |541 |-329 |-147
2014 |-293 |-65 |541 |-345 |-162
2015 |-293 |-65 |541 |-357 |-174
2016 |-293 |-65 |541 |-367 |-184
2017 |-293 |-65 |541 |-375 |-193
2018 |-293 |-65 |541 |-383 |-200
2019 |-293 |-65 |541 |-388 |-206
2020 |-293 |-65 |541 |-393 |-210
2021 |-293 |-65 |541 |-399 |-216
2022 |-293 |-65 |541 |-404 |-222
2023 |-293 |-65 |541 |-407 |-225
2024 |-293 |-65 |541 |-410 |-227
2025 |-293 |-65 |541 |-411 |-228
2026 |-293 |-65 |541 |-411 |-228
2027 |-293 |-65 |541 |-412 |-230
90 per cent. take up
1990 |0 |-65 |188 |0 |123
1991 |-22 |-65 |217 |-2 |129
1992 |-42 |-64 |242 |-10 |128
1993 |-61 |-63 |265 |-23 |120
1994 |-78 |-61 |288 |-43 |106
1995 |-95 |-59 |310 |-68 |87
1996 |-112 |-59 |334 |-93 |69
1997 |-131 |-62 |365 |-115 |58
1998 |-152 |-63 |400 |-133 |52
1999 |-172 |-65 |434 |-147 |50
2000 |-190 |-65 |461 |-159 |46
2001 |-206 |-65 |484 |-176 |37
2002 |-222 |-65 |506 |-199 |21
2003 |-236 |-65 |528 |-216 |10
2004 |-251 |-65 |549 |-228 |4
2005 |-266 |-65 |569 |-238 |1
2006 |-280 |-65 |589 |-245 |-1
2007 |-293 |-65 |608 |-248 |2
2008 |-293 |-65 |608 |-260 |-10
2009 |-293 |-65 |608 |-283 |-33
2010 |-293 |-65 |608 |-310 |-60
2011 |-293 |-65 |608 |-333 |-83
2012 |-293 |-65 |608 |-351 |-101
2013 |-293 |-65 |608 |-371 |-121
2014 |-293 |-65 |608 |-387 |-137
2015 |-293 |-65 |608 |-401 |-151
2016 |-293 |-65 |608 |-413 |-163
2017 |-293 |-65 |608 |-423 |-173
2018 |-293 |-65 |608 |-430 |-180
2019 |-293 |-65 |608 |-436 |-186
2020 |-293 |-65 |608 |-442 |-192
2021 |-293 |-65 |608 |-448 |-198
2022 |-293 |-65 |608 |-455 |-205
2023 |-293 |-65 |608 |-459 |-209
2024 |-293 |-65 |608 |-460 |-210
2025 |-293 |-65 |608 |-462 |-212
2026 |-293 |-65 |608 |-463 |-213
2027 |-293 |-65 |608 |-464 |-214
100 per cent. take up
1990 |0 |-65 |209 |0 |144
1991 |-22 |-65 |242 |-3 |153
1992 |-42 |-64 |269 |-11 |154
1993 |-61 |-63 |295 |-26 |147
1994 |-78 |-61 |320 |-48 |133
1995 |-95 |-59 |344 |-76 |113
1996 |-112 |-59 |371 |-104 |95
1997 |-131 |-62 |406 |-128 |85
1998 |-152 |-63 |445 |-148 |82
1999 |-172 |-65 |482 |-164 |81
2000 |-190 |-65 |512 |-177 |80
2001 |-206 |-65 |538 |-195 |71
2002 |-222 |-65 |562 |-221 |55
2003 |-236 |-65 |586 |-240 |44
2004 |-251 |-65 |610 |-253 |40
2005 |-266 |-65 |632 |-264 |37
2006 |-280 |-65 |654 |-272 |38
2007 |-293 |-65 |676 |-276 |42
2008 |-293 |-65 |676 |-289 |29
2009 |-293 |-65 |676 |-314 |3
2010 |-293 |-65 |676 |-344 |-27
2011 |-293 |-65 |676 |-370 |-52
2012 |-293 |-65 |676 |-390 |-73
2013 |-293 |-65 |676 |-412 |-94
2014 |-293 |-65 |676 |-430 |-113
2015 |-293 |-65 |676 |-446 |-128
2016 |-293 |-65 |676 |-458 |-141
2017 |-293 |-65 |676 |-470 |-152
2018 |-293 |-65 |676 |-478 |-161
2019 |-293 |-65 |676 |-484 |-167
2020 |-293 |-65 |676 |-491 |-173
2021 |-293 |-65 |676 |-498 |-181
2022 |-293 |-65 |676 |-505 |-188
2023 |-293 |-65 |676 |-509 |-192
2024 |-293 |-65 |676 |-511 |-194
2025 |-293 |-65 |676 |-513 |-195
2026 |-293 |-65 |676 |-514 |-197
2027 |-293 |-65 |676 |-515 |-198
Travellers' Children
Mr. Rowe : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the numbers of travellers' children per local education authority as returned by them on form 510F (1989--190) appendix 2.
Mr. Butcher : The information received from the local education authorities is incomplete. I am writing to the hon. Member.
Standards in Education 1987-88"
Mr. Straw : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether copies of Her Majesty's inspector's
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report, "Standards in Education 1987-88," will be made freely available at the stand taken by him at the Ideal Home exhibition.Under-fives
Mr. Bowis : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science, further to his announcement on 18 January, Official Report, column 401, when he intends to give details of the membership and terms of reference of the committee inquiring into the content of the educational experience of under-fives.
Mrs. Rumbold : The following have agreed to become members of the committee which is to be established under my chairmanship. Ms. Lesley Abbott, Principal Lecturer in Primary Education, Manchester Polytechnic.
Professor Neville Bennett, Professor of Primary Education, University of Exeter.
Mr. Peter Gedling, Chief Education Officer, Dorset.
Mrs. Rose Johnson, Headteacher, Brentfield Primary School, Brent. Dr. Christine Pascal, Principal Lecturer in Primary Education, Worcester College of Higher Education.
Mrs. Gillian Pugh, Head of Under Fives Unit, National Children's Bureau.
Mrs. Ann Sharp, Adviser (Early Years), Sheffield Local Education Authority.
Mrs. Jennie Shaw, Chairman, Pre-school Playgroups Association. The Committee's terms of reference are :
To consider the quality of the educational experience which should be offered to 3- and 4-year-olds, with particular reference to content, continuity and progression in learning, having regard to the requirements of the national curriculum and taking account of the Government's expenditure plans.
To take into account in this consideration :
(a) the diversity of needs and of types of provision ; (
(b) demographic and social factors ;
(c) the nature of training for teachers and other professional staff involved in the education of children under five.
Student Grants
Mr. Anthony Coombs : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish details of student grants for the 1989-90 academic year.
Mr. Jackson : I announced on 16 December, Official Report, column 755, that the main rates of student grant would be increased by 5 per cent. for students studying outside London and by 9.3 per cent. for London students. I am publishing the supplementary allowances today ; details have been placed in the Library. Most will rise by 5 per cent. in line with the main rates of grant, but allowances for students with dependent children will be increased on average by 10 per cent. There will be some minor modifications to the Education (Mandatory Awards) Regulations. These include the reclassification of some countries for the purpose of determining the level of grant for study abroad, and some relaxation of the rules relating to parental contributions for married students and students who have been in care.
Column 503
WALES
Woodland Grant Scheme
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the names, locations and areas of woodland grant scheme applications in excess of 100 hectares submitted since the start of the scheme in Wales, showing for which of these an environmental assessment has been requested by the Forestry Commission ; and if he will give reasons why environmental assessment has not been requested for any remaining applications.
Mr. Peter Walker : There have been two applications under the woodland grant scheme for more than 100 hectares of new planting in Wales. They are listed as follows. An environmental assessment was not requested for these applications as they did not meet the criteria specified in the Forestry Commission booklet "Environmental Assessment of Afforestation Projects", a copy of which is in the Library of the House.
Name |County |Total Area |Planting Area
|(ha) |(ha)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Maesllymystyn |Powys |119 |116
Gesail Ddu |Powys |148 |134
Community Health Councils
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if, in the light of representation he has received from the Arfon-Dwyfor community health council, he will revise his statement of 3 March on the closure of ysbyty Madog, that there was no opposition to closure from the community health council ; and if he will now withdraw and reconsider his ratification for that closure proposal.
Mr. Peter Walker : Welsh Office officials have written to the Secretary of Arfon-Dwyfor community health council to explain that the reference in the letter of 3 March was to direct objections to myself following the announcement of the one-month appeal period after Gwynedd health authority's meeting on 25 April 1988. I was aware of the representations which the Arfon-Dwyfor community health council made to the health authority and copied to me on 7 March 1988. I took account of them before reaching my decision. I therefore do not consider that I should withdraw my approval of the proposal to close Madog memorial hospital in the light of the representations of the Arfon-Dwyfor community health council.
General Practitioners
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a table showing for each health authority area in Wales how many general practitioners are men and how many are women.
Mr. Peter Walker : The information, which is only available by family practitioner committee areas, is given in the following table :
|c|Unrestricted principals as at 1
October 1987|c|
|Male |Female
-------------------------------------
Clwyd |194 |20
Dyfed |175 |30
Gwent |195 |45
Gwynedd |123 |20
Mid Glamorgan |252 |39
Powys |66 |9
South Glamorgan |165 |60
West Glamorgan |165 |29
Labour Statistics
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what would be the totals of unemployed in the area covered by the valleys programme for the years 1988-89, 1989-90, 1990-91, 1991-92, if calculated on the assumption of the continuation of the reduction in the totals from 1984 to the date of the publication of the programme.
Mr. Peter Walker : The total numbers of unemployed claimants in the valleys programme area fell by 21 per cent. from 45,199 in May 1984 to 35,675 in May 1988.
It is not the Government's policy to forecast unemployment levels. However, the hon. Gentleman will be pleased to note that between May 1988 and February 1989 numbers of unemployed claimants in the valleys fell by 5,863 to 29,812--a fall in the first nine months of the valleys programme-- considerably more than double the average annual fall in the preceding four years.
Welsh Water Authority
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what would have been the reduction in the average bill of the Welsh domestic water consumer in each of the past five years had the sum of £460 million, and its equivalent in real terms, been written off the debt of the Welsh water authority.
Mr. Peter Walker : The question is hypothetical.
Woodlands
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list all Forestry Commission woodlands in the geographical county of Glamorgan, stating for each woodland its acreage and grid reference.
Mr. Peter Walker [holding answer 9 March 1989] : This information is not held centrally and could not be provided in the form requested except at disproportionate cost.
Sea Pollution
Dr. Cunningham : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the number of sewage outfalls to the sea in the Welsh water authority ; and, of these, how many include primary treatment works.
Mr. Peter Walker [holding answer 14 March 1989] : The current information on sewage outfalls to the sea in the Welsh water authority area is as follows :
Level of treatment |Number of outfalls
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
None |90
Tidal storage |23
Preliminary-Screened and/or macerated |53
Primary |29
Secondary |61
|--
Total |256
|Total extra cost<1> |Campaign costs |Garrison running costs|Garrison capital costs|Airfield construction
|costs<2>
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1983-84 |637 |246 |199 |192 |54
1984-85 |644 |241 |184 |219 |108
1985-86 |571 |175 |175 |221 |102
1986-87 |405 |169 |126 |110 |18
1987-88 |229 |111 |76 |42 |18
1988-89 |102 |43 |56 |3 |-
1989-90 |73 |17 |54 |2 |-
All figures £ million in-year cash.
<1> Includes all extra costs relating to the Falklands garrison; it excludes those personnel, equipment and other costs which would be incurred in the absence
of the Falklands commitment.
<2> The airfield construction costs form part of the garrison capital costs.
The Welsh water authority continues to pursue a policy of improving the treatment and disposal of sewage so as to meet the quality objectives of the receiving water. Since 1979 some 10 untreated discharges have been abandoned and a further five replaced by outfalls with preliminary treatment. One new outfall with secondary treatment has been constructed. These figures do not include work which has upgraded existing treated outfalls to a satisfactory standard. Since 1981-82 the authority advises that capital expenditure of over £21.5 million (at 1988 prices) has been undertaken in respect of work to sea outfalls and sewage treatment works discharging to tidal waters.
ENVIRONMENT
Toxic Waste
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to the reply to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy of 9 February, Official Report, column 769, if he will make a further statement on the outcome of follow-up discussions with the Medical Research Council over radioactive waste from radon source materials at Barton-Le-Clay, Bedfordshire.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : The Medical Research Council has provided Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution with extensive information about its wartime operations at Barton-Le-Clay.
In 1939, the council transferred its production of medical radon sources from London to Barton in the Clay, Bedfordshire. It ceased production in 1948, transferred the source material to the Ministry of Supply at Amersham and checked for any remaining radioactive waste. The premises were then handed back to the original owner. HMIP has carried out a thorough inspection of the area and is satisfied that it is safe.
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