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Written Answers to Questions
Wednesday 10 May 1989
SCOTLAND
Electricity Privatisation
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what volume of radioactive wastes in the categories of (a) low level, (b) intermediate level and (c) high level, respectively, will be transferred to the ownership of Scottish Nuclear Limited under privatisation of the South of Scotland electricity board ; and what volume of unreprocessed spent nuclear fuel and reprocessed plutonium will be transferred to Scottish Nuclear Limited on its creation.
Mr. Lang : The Government's intention is that Scottish Nuclear Limited should inherit all the SSEB's nuclear assets and liabilities.
AIDS
Mr. Robertson : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report the names of each of the advertising agencies used by his Department on the AIDS campaign, with the payments made to each.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : The Scottish Home and Health Department does not employ advertising agencies for the AIDS campaign.
Buses (Privatisation)
Mr. Bill Walker : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will list the fleet size and market share of the individual local authority bus public limited companies in Scotland ;
(2) what are the numbers and types of public service vehicles which are in service with local authority public limited companies in Scotland.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 2 May 1989] : The numbers and types of public service vehicles in service with local authority owned bus undertakings in Scotland are shown in the following table. Information on the market share of the individual companies is not available.
|Strathclyde Buses Ltd. |Lothian Region Transport|Tayside Public Transport |plc |Company Ltd. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Double deckers |757 |524 |141 Single deckers |10 |29 |4 Coaches |13 |21 |12 Midibuses |44 |4 |- Minibuses |16 |- |4 Open top buses |3 |2 |- All buses |843 |580 |161 Source: "Who's Who in the Bus Industry", 1989-90 Edition, published by Yandell Publishing Ltd.
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New Businesses
Mr. Bill Walker : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many firms have set up new businesses in Scotland in the period May 1979 to April 1989 ; what type of businesses they were ; how many jobs were created ; and where those firms were located.
Mr. Lang [holding answer 9 May 1989] : Between 1 January 1980 and 1 January 1989, the number of companies registered in Scotland rose by just under 20,000, or by more than one half.
Information on jobs created from new openings is available only for the manufacturing sector. The definition used includes existing plants rising above the employment threshold of 11 and also includes in some cases existing businesses changing address or expansions to new sites.
One thousand, three hundred and eighty-five manufacturing plants opened in Scotland between 1979 and 1987, and 994 were still open at the end of 1987 with a total employment of 44,001. Tables 1 and 2 show the industry breakdown and the local authority breakdown of these plants. Figures for the period after 1987 are not yet available.
Table 2 |(1) |(2) 1980 Standard Industrial |Number of manufacturing |1987 employment<2> Classification |plants opened in |Scotland January 1979 to |December 1987<1> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Metal Manufacture (Classes 21-22) |30 |912 Other Minerals and Mineral Products (Classes 23-24) |70 |1,637 Chemicals and Man-made Fibres (Classes 25-26) |40 |1,439 Engineering and Allied Industries (Classes 31-37) |585 |19,152 Food, Drink and Tobacco Industries (Classes 41-42) |180 |6,558 Textiles, Footwear, Leather and Clothing (Classes 43-45) |191 |7,137 Other Manufacturing (Classes 46-49) |289 |7,166 |------ |------ Total Manufacturing |1,385 |44,001 Source: Regional Data System. Notes: 1. This figure includes plants closing prior to December 1987. 2. Employment relates to 1987 or latest known employment if 1987 not available; figures are given for plants open at December 1987.
Table 2 |(1) |(2) 1980 Standard Industrial |Number of manufacturing |1987 employment<2> Classification |plants opened in |Scotland January 1979 to |December 1987<1> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Metal Manufacture (Classes 21-22) |30 |912 Other Minerals and Mineral Products (Classes 23-24) |70 |1,637 Chemicals and Man-made Fibres (Classes 25-26) |40 |1,439 Engineering and Allied Industries (Classes 31-37) |585 |19,152 Food, Drink and Tobacco Industries (Classes 41-42) |180 |6,558 Textiles, Footwear, Leather and Clothing (Classes 43-45) |191 |7,137 Other Manufacturing (Classes 46-49) |289 |7,166 |------ |------ Total Manufacturing |1,385 |44,001 Source: Regional Data System. Notes: 1. This figure includes plants closing prior to December 1987. 2. Employment relates to 1987 or latest known employment if 1987 not available; figures are given for plants open at December 1987.
TRANSPORT
M6 (Road Works)
Mr. Franks : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport why, during the recent bank holiday weekend, only one lane of the M6 northbound was open between junctions 16 and 17 ; how long it was closed prior to that weekend ; when the present contraflow was set up increasing the number of lanes open in both directions to two ; and whether he will ensure that where possible road works do not take place over bank holidays unless absolutely necessary and that, when such occasions arise, at least two lanes are open.
Mr. Peter Bottomley : One-lane working on the northbound carriageway was necessary from 9 pm to midnight on Sunday 30 April to set up the amended contraflow. Otherwise, two lanes have been available in both directions except when the contraflow system on the southbound carriageway was installed at the start of the contract on 15 April. We shall whenever possible ensure that road works do not take place at bank holidays, particularly on major holiday routes. If work has to be done, we shall keep as much road space open as possible.
Motor Cyclists (Safety)
Mr. Greg Knight : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has any proposals to improve the safety of new motor cycle riders in the first six months of their riding career.
Mr. Peter Bottomley : Sales of motor cycles below 125 cc in the first four months of this year were 15 per cent. higher than during the same period in 1988.
We welcome this change in the fortunes of the motor cycle industry. Unfortunately, only about 30 per cent. of new riders at present undergo any form of training.
Today, the motor cycle industry launched bike fax' : a personal organiser to be given free to all new provisional motor cycle licence holders by motor cycle dealers. This will help to establish motor cycle dealers as new rider information centres.
Bike fax' seeks to influence the would-be biker to choose the right bike, to take proper training, to develop the skills to survive the high-risk early months and to dress suitably and conspicuously. Although the Department of Transport has assisted in its production, bike fax' is funded entirely by the industry.
Manufacturers and dealers support fully our proposals to introduce compulsory basic training for new riders from mid-1990.
ENVIRONMENT
Urban Programme
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much is being spent in the parliamentary constituency of Don Valley under the urban
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programme ; on what schemes it is being spent ; and if he will list the percentage of the budget that is allocated for (a) publicity, (b) information and (c) public relations.Mr. Trippier : During 1988-89, schemes totalling £932,944 were approved in Don Valley under the urban programme. These were : Mexborough Industrial Improvement Area Schemes
Mexborough Grammar School Conversion
Mexborough Resource Centre
Conisbrough Castle Interpretative Centre
Mexborough Under-fives Resource Centre
Mexborough Publicity
Schemes approved for start in 1989-90 in Don Valley currently total £245,070. These were :
Mexborough Industrial Improvement Area Schemes
Balby Street School, Conisbrough, Environmental Works
Clayfield Court, Mexborough
Crags Road Flats, Denaby Main
First Interpreters
Highwoods Crescent, Mexborough
Landscaping of Dumpit Sites
Maple Leaf Court, Mexborough
Mexborough Resource Centre
Mexborough Under-fives Resource Centre
Shepherds Close, Denaby Main
Wellgate Flats, Conisbrough
However it is up to Doncaster metropolitan borough council to determine scheme and spending priority within its total UP resources which stood at £1.75 million in 1988-89 and are £1.795 million for 1989-90. Actual spending figures for 1988-89 have not yet been received and figures for 1989-90 will not be available until after the end of the financial year.
There is no allocated budget for publicity, information or public relations. A one-off grant of £3,000 was approved in 1989-90 to publicise UP development grants in Mexborough.
Advisory Committee on Works of Art
Mr. Baldry : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will appoint a new member to the advisory committee on works of art in the House of Commons following the appointment of the hon. Member Member for Chipping Barnet (Mr. Chapman) as an Assistant Whip.
Mr. Ridley : I am pleased to announce that, with Mr. Speaker's agreement, I have appointed my hon. Friend the Member for Milton Keynes (Mr. Benyon) to the advisory committee.
Afforestation Grants
Mr. Baldry : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what changes he proposes to make in the payment of compensation under management agreements in cases where afforestation grant is refused solely on nature conservation grounds.
Mr. Ridley : Following consultations with my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Scotland, the Secretary of State for Wales, the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, I have agreed with the Nature Conservancy Council that it should not longer offer compensation for the refusal of afforestation grant where it is refused solely on nature conservation grounds.
Compensation will still be available for the profit forgone, excluding any grant element, in any case where planting would otherwise proceed.
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In considering applicatons for grant for afforestation, the Forestry Commission will continue to pay full regard to nature conservation interest, and in particular to designations of sites of special scientific interest made by the NCC. While there will normally be a presumption against giving grants for afforestation in sites of special scientific interest, it must remain the case that each application will be considered on its merits.This decision reflects the recent radical changes in support for forestry introduced in the 1988 Budget and the subsequent increases in planting grant under the new woodland grant scheme. These changes have made the grant element a very significant factor in determining the profitability of afforestation proposals and therefore in the compensation paid under management agreements. This is in marked contrast with the position in agriculture, where recent changes in the grant arrangements mean that it will now seldom be the case that these grants will form a significant element in the profit forgone calculation of management agreements offered by the NCC.
The withdrawal of compensation in these cases will be consistent with the developing policies of locational guidance for forestry illustrated by the indicative land use strategies under consideration by some local authorities in Scotland. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland is currently considering the nature and scope of any advice he might offer to local authorities in preparing indicative forestry strategies. I shall be considering with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales the guidance to be offered to English and Welsh authorities on the form that locational guidance should take in appropriate cases. The Forestry Commission and the NCC stand ready to assist local authorities in this task.
I am satisfied that, taking all these factors into account, it is in the public interest that the NCC's policy should be changed. The forestry industry can take confidence in their long term investment considerations from knowing at a very early stage the areas of land with potential for afforestation.
A revision of the financial guidelines will be issued as soon as possible.
United Nations Environment Programme
Mr. Hanley : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he will put forward at next week's governing council meeting of the United Nation's Environment Programme.
Mr. Ridley : My noble Friend the Minister for Housing, Environment and Countryside, will represent the United Kingdom at the governing council and will set out the Government's views on the major global environmental issues on United Nations Environment Programme's agenda, including global warming.
To ensure that these issues are given the priority they deserve we want to strengthen the United Nations Environment Programme both in regard to existing functions and in preparing for the major United Nations conference on the environment in 1992.
In order to help to provide the United Nations Environment Programme with the resources it needs to carry out the task we require of it, the United Kingdom has more than doubled its financial contribution. We will be urging other countries to follow our lead. We will call for the urgent consideration of a framework convention on the subject of climate change.
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This would establish general principles or guidelines and allow more specific measures to be developed in the form of protocols as scientific and other information becomes clearer.We will also reiterate the Government's support for the intergovernmental panel on climate change set up by the United Nations Environment Programme and the World Meteorological Office.
Correspondence
Dr. Cunningham : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will reply to the letter of 17 January from Councillor Martin Doughty, chairman of the planning and countryside committee of Derbyshire county council.
Mr. Ridley [holding answer 5 May 1989] : My hon. and learned Friend the Minister for Water and Planning replied on 2 May to Councillor Doughty's letter concerning observations on the legal basis of discharge consent requirements for sewage treatment works. These issues have been under active consideration by my Department. That is why we were not able to give him an earlier substantive reply.
EC (Meetings)
Mr. Wray : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list all the European Community meetings on matters concerning his Department held in 1985, 1986, 1987 and 1988.
Mr. Ridley [holding answer 8 May 1989] : The European Council met on three occasions in 1985 and 1988 and twice in 1986 and 1987. The Environment Council met formally on four occasions in 1985, three in 1986, four in 1987 and four in 1988. There were also occasional informal meetings of Environment Ministers. In addition, there were numerous meetings of officials. Information on the number of such meetings could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Sewerage Incinerator, Yelland
Mr. Speller : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the sewerage incinerator at Yelland, North Devon will be tested (a) to comply with EC directive 84/360, (b) under the Health and Safety (Emissions into the Atmosphere) Regulations 1983 (SI, 1983, No. 943) and (c) under the Clean Air Acts before it is permitted to operate.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley [holding answer 9 May 1989] : Because the sewage screening incinerator at Yelland has a capacity of less than 1 tonne an hour, it will be controlled for air pollution purposes by the North Devon district council ; it is for the council to determine what atmospheric emission testing is required.
Public Airport Companies
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what response he has made to representations about the application of the Local Government and Housing Bill to public airport companies ; and if he will make a statement.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley [holding answer 9 May 1989] : The Department has made it clear that the provisions of
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part V of the Local Government and Housing Bill--local authority interests in companies--do not need, in general, to be applied to public airport companies since the Airports Act 1986 covers most of the points at issue. There may, however, be some aspects where, after consultation with local airport companies, it will seem sensible to extend the provisions to cover them.TRADE AND INDUSTRY
EC Consumer Ministers
Mr. Sean Hughes : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what matters he proposes to discuss at the forthcoming meeting of the European Economic Community Consumer Ministers.
Mr. Forth : The Spanish presidency have indicated that they provisionally plan to include the following topics on the agenda for the Council of Consumer Ministers planned for 1 June.
Proposal for a Council directive amending Directive 87/102/EEC for the approximation of laws, regulations, and administrative provisions of Member States concerning Consumer Credit.
Draft resolution on future priorities for consumer protection. Commission presentation of a further draft of the general product safety directive.
Consideration of the Commission's report on the European home and leisure accident surveillance system.
Consideration of a report by the Commission on consumer education in primary and secondary schools.
Exports
Mr. Tom Clarke : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the most recent United Kingdom share of world exports of manufactured goods ; and what was the level in 1979, 1969 and 1959.
Mr. John Evans : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the most recent United Kingdom share of world exports of manufactured goods ; and what was the level in 1979, 1969 and 1959.
Mr. Alan Clark : The information is as follows :
|United Kingdom Share of |MMCs<1> |Per cent. ------------------------------------------------------------------------1988 |<3>8.2 1979 |9.1 1969 |11.2 1959 |17.9 <1> Main manufacturing countries-Belgium, Luxembourg, Canada, France, Federal Republic of Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom and the United States of America. <2> Standard international trade classification, sections 5-8. <3> Figures based on the first three quarters of 1988. Source: "Monthly Review of External Trade Statistics."
Departmental Statistics
Mr. Nicholas Bennett : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will publish the report on the review of Department of Trade and Industry statistics ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Maude : Last July, an efficiency scrutiny was set up in the Department of Trade and Industry to examine the
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arrangements for the collection of economic statistics by DTI, and the methods by which statistical inquiries are undertaken. The scrutiny team, Alan Armstrong of Bristol university and David Rees of the DTI, was asked specifically to consider whether these arrangements struck a satisfactory balance between minimising the burdens placed on business in providing the information required, and meeting the needs for which the data are to be used by Government and other customers, and if not, to make recommendations accordingly. The report of this scrutiny is being published today, and copies have been placed in the Libraries of the House.The report recommends a number of changes which, by shifting resources in data collection to the areas where they are most needed, will improve the quality of information used in macro-economic statistics. At the same time, the form-filling burden on business will be substantially reduced. Changes being made include conducting surveys less often, approaching fewer people and making forms simpler to complete. The cost to business will be reduced by about a quarter, resulting in savings of about £1.7 million on Government form filling. Further savings of over £500,000 per annum could be expected if EC requirements for statistics can be reduced, and I will be seeking ways of achieving this.
The report's recommendations will be implemented over the next three years, and this has begun. In the light of machinery of Government changes announced to the House by the Prime Minister on 5 April, responsibility for implementation of the recommendations still outstanding will transfer to the Central Statistical Office when these changes take effect. DTI Ministers, who have the lead responsibility for deregulation policy, will agree with the enlarged Central Statistical Office specific objectives to ensure that the burdens on industry are minimised.
USSR and China
Mr. Fisher : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many British companies have set up joint ventures in (a) the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and (b) China.
Mr. Alan Clark [holding answer 8 May 1989] : (a) Joint ventures, USSR : My Department is aware of 33 joint ventures signed to date between British companies and Soviet organisations. In addition, we are aware of a number of British companies presently involved in negotiations to set up joint ventures in the USSR, so the figure is likely to continue to grow.
(b) Joint ventures, China : My Department is aware, through the British embassy in Peking, of some 60 United Kingdom joint ventures covering a wide range of commercial activities.
WALES
Mental Health
Mr. Martyn Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what information he has on problems in the replacement of mental health provision in Clwyd as a result of the run down of North Wales hospital, Denbigh.
Mr. Grist : My right hon. Friend has not been informed of problems with alternative provision in Clwyd in the context of the future of the North Wales hospital,
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Denbigh. Welsh Office officials will be discussing with Clwyd district health authority and Clwyd county council the nature and range of services required for mentally ill people in developing the county plan to be produced under the mental illness strategy which is about to be published.Mr. Martyn Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the recent changes in the staff of his Department responsible for mental health provision in Wales.
Mr. Peter Walker : There have been two recent changes, one at grade 5 level and one at grade 7 level.
Community Health Councils (Gwynedd)
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many letters he has received opposing plans for reducing the number of community health councils in Gwynedd ; what further consultation he intends to undertake on this matter ; when he proposes to make a final decision ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Grist : Fifty-eight letters have been received by the Department up to 5 May. A consultation document will be issued later in the summer. A decision will be taken once the consultation exercise has been completed and the matter fully considered in the light of the comments received.
DHAs (Capital Projects)
Mr. Robin Cook : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give, for each DHA, details of proposed capital development costing more than £1 million which have been cancelled for each year since 1979.
Mr. Grist : I regret that comprehensive information is not available centrally on the adjustments made by health authorities to their capital programmes over this period.
Ecclesiastical Exemption
Mr. Gwilym Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he has any proposals for an order under section 58AA of the Town and Country Planning Act 1971, which provides for the restriction of the ecclesiastical exemption.
Mr. Wyn Roberts : The Welsh Office has today issued a consultation paper to interested parties setting out our proposals. A copy has been placed in the Library of the House.
Publicity
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will place in the Library details of each major publicity campaign mounted by his Department in 1985-86 and each successive year, including in each case the objectives of the campaign, the intended audience and the outcome of the monitoring of the achievement of the intended objectives, and national research conducted for him by the Central Office for Information, together with a note of the intended objectives in the campaigns in 1989-90.
Mr. Peter Walker [holding answer 2 May 1989) : For the years 1985-86 and 1986-87, the Welsh Office mounted no major publicity campaigns. Major campaigns undertaken/planned by the Welsh Office in the following years were :
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1987-88(a) European Year of Environment
Objective To promote the aims of the European Year of Environment to farmers and rural communities by an exhibition at major agricultural shows throughout Wales.
Audience Farmers and people working and living in rural communities. ( Cost £111k)
1988-89
(b) Enterprise Wales Roadshow
Objective To promote the various schemes offered under the Enterprise Initiative, especially those unique to Wales, through paid advertising, and a travelling exhibition at industrial estates (42) throughout Wales.
Audience All types of business looking for assistance to develop. ( Cost £70k)
Measure of Effectiveness Unit cost of "serious" inquiry (ie one that was followed up by Welsh Office Industry Department) was measured. This was approximately £100 per inquiry.
(c) Valleys Initiative
Objective To launch the Valleys Initiative through a Print and Press launch.
Audience Press, local authorities and businesses within Valleys. ( Cost £40k)
1989-90
(d) Festival of Food and Farming
Objective To promote Welsh food and crafts in England and Wales through an exhibition at Hyde Park, followed by displays at major agricultural events in Wales.
Audience Retail and wholesale buyers, general public. Number of trade inquiries being measured. ( Cost £200k)
(e) Community Charge
Objective To make people aware of the legal requirements and rebates of the community charge through bilingual paid advertising and leaflets, via postal drop to all households in Wales
Audience All households in Wales. ( Cost £400k)
Measure of effectiveness Estimated cost of informing each household 33p.
(f) The Welsh Office also took part in the following major campaigns initiated by other Whitehall Departments :
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