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68. Mr. Gill : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what further steps have now been taken to prevent fraud in intervention stocks and export refunds following the latest Court of Auditors report.
Mr. MacGregor : As my hon. Friend knows, I have been taking the initiative in the Council of Ministers on many occasions to press for further action to deal with fraud in the common agricultural policy. I am glad to say that the Commission has undertaken to present to Council later this month a report on follow-up action to the recent Court of Auditors report. This will include a proposal to require member states to carry out an annual check on intervention stocks, to ensure that actual quantities present tally with storekeepers' accounts, and a revised proposal on monitoring export refunds, which would require member states to carry out a minimum level of controls. I will again be pressing Council to take speedy action on these proposals. The Commission has also this month introduced a simplification of the system for beef export refunds designed to reduce opportunities for fraud.
Mr. Kirkwood : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is yet in a position to make a statement on the future of the Potato Marketing Board.
Mr. Ryder : I am still considering this.
Mr. Amos : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy to oppose any European Economic Community proposals to impose headage limitations on its contributions to hill livestock compensatory allowances ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Donald Thompson : The European Commission has recently made proposals for amendments to the EC legislation governing hill livestock compensatory allowances, as part of a package relating to reform of the structural funds. The proposals are currently being studied. I can assure my hon. Friend that we shall be seeking to preserve the United Kingdom interests in the forthcoming negotiations. In particular, I remain firmly opposed to the principle of ceilings based on farm size and other measures which would discriminate against the United Kingdom.
Mr. Boswell : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what have been for each of the last five years, the administration costs of maintaining a register of
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confusion marks for the purposes of the sheep variable premium scheme ; and how many animals were so registered in each of these years.Mr. Donald Thompson [holding reply 13 June 1989] : The cost of administering the confusion mark procedures are not separately recorded. Nor are the number of animals registered under the system noted centrally. Those figures could be extracted only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. David Porter : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many meetings he has had so far in the current year with representatives of the fishing industry in the United Kingdom ; and what has been discussed.
Mr. Donald Thompson [holding reply 12 June 1989] : I am regularly in touch with the fishing industry. This year I met industry representatives when I visited Hastings and Newhaven on 1 February, the Fish Council in Brussels on 23 February, Billingsgate on 21 March, the Fishing '89 exhibition in Glasgow on 14 April and at the National Federation of Fisheries Organisations' annual general meeting on 10 June. I have discussed a wide range of issues, of both local and national interest, including total allowable catches, vessel licensing, enforcement, management of the Channel cod fishery, quota hopping, beam trawl restrictions, decommissioning, SFIA grants, structure of the fleet and light dues.
Mr. Spearing : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Newham, South, on 23 March, Official Report, columns 708-9, on the studies of bridge design for the proposed east London river crossing, he will state the date when the consultant's report was, or is expected to be received ; and if he will make a statement covering its conclusion.
Mr. Channon : I have nothing to add to my reply of 23 March to the hon. Member.
Mr. Heddle : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Mid-Staffordshire, on 12 May, Official Report, column 548, he can indicate when he will announce his decision following the public inquiry held in May 1988 on his Department's proposals for the Birmingham northern relief road.
Mr. Peter Bottomley : My right hon. Friend announced on 22 May his intention to arrange a competition relating to the design, financing and construction of a new highway which would serve broadly the same purpose as the proposed Birmingham northern relief road. A decision on the Department's proposals for BNRR will be made when the outcome of the competition is known.
Mr. Goodlad : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects work to commence on the Davenham bypass.
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Mr. Peter Bottomley : This is a Cheshire county council proposal. I understand that it hopes to start work in 1992.
Mr. Tom Arnold : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received about his new draft order for the M66 line order at the M66/A664 interchange ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Peter Bottomley : We expect to publish a connecting roads order for the M66/A664 junction next year. A period will be allowed for objection and comment.
Mr. Churchill : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information his Department has on the availability of explosive testing kits capable of detecting Semtex ; and what steps he has taken to acquire these kits for United Kingdom airports or to recommend them to their operators.
Mr. Peter Bottomley : The Department has a programme for testing-- and, where appropriate, assisting with the development of--equipment designed to detect explosives hidden in items carried on aircraft. Several techniques and individual items of equipment have shown promising results in the laboratory, but we have not yet found any system which will perform satisfactorily under operational conditions at airports.
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will indicate his estimates of repairs and maintenance for each of the M11 and M25 for each of the next five years.
Mr. Peter Bottomley : The need for repairs and maintenance of motorways is reviewed each year in the light of condition surveys. Major maintenance work for the M11 and M25 has been planned for 1989-90, as follows :
Location |Works |Cost £ million ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ M11 Junctions 12-14 |Overlay |1.0 South of Junction 5 (Northbound) |Overlay |2.6 South of Junction 5 (Southbound) |Overlay |2.9 North of Junction 5 (Northbound) |Overlay |1.3 North of Junction 5 (Southbound) |Overlay |1.2 Total cost |9.0 M25 Junction 24 |Reconstruction|2.9 Junctions 11-13 |Reconstruction|0.9 Total cost |3.8
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his route signing in London proposals for change will fully allow for a London- made heavy lorry ban to be enforced ; and if he will make a statement.
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Mr. Peter Bottomley : The review of signing in London relates to directional signs on the primary route network. Drivers need simple and logical direction signing if they are to reach unfamiliar destinations safely and quickly. It would not be appropriate to include detailed information on lorry restrictions on such signs.
Mr. Allen McKay : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if full compensation will be paid to local authorities for strengthening of bridges and roads in their areas should 40-tonne lorries be allowed on British roads.
Mr. Peter Bottomley : It is for highway authorities to maintain to the appropriate standards the bridges for which they are responsible. The provision of resources for this is considered in the annual public expenditure round. We shall shortly be discussing with local authority associations the implications of the recent decision that the United Kingdom's derogation from the EC lorry weights will end on 31 December 1998.
Mr. Amos : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what studies have been made by his Department into the introduction of tow-away zones in selected areas in London ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Peter Bottomley : The Metropolitan police have powers throughout London to remove any illegally parked vehicle. It is for them to decide how these powers are exercised. The Department has commissioned studies of the effects of vehicle removal in parts of central London as one method of parking enforcement. The studies are not yet complete.
Mr. William Ross : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many deaths and injuries there have been at level crossings, by type of crossing in Great Britain in each of the last five years ; whether there are any limits on the speed of trains at each such type of level crossing ; and how many of the incidents in each year resulting in death and injury involved collision with road vehicles.
Mr. Portillo : Table A shows the number of deaths and injuries from accidents at level crossings, by type of crossing, in Great Britain during the period 1984-88. Table B shows the number of incidents involving death and/or injury during those years which resulted from collision between rail and road vehicles. The Department's published requirements for level crossings prescribe limits for train speeds at open, automatic open and automatic half-barrier crossings. The criteria for automatic open crossings have been revised following a review of safety at these crossings by Professor P. F. Stott after the accident at Lockington level crossing on 26 July 1986.
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Table B: Incidents involving deaths and injuries resulting from collisions at level crossings Year |Number ---------------------- 1984 |18 1985 |24 1986 |24 1987 |26 1988<1> |25 <1> Provision
Table B: Incidents involving deaths and injuries resulting from collisions at level crossings Year |Number ---------------------- 1984 |18 1985 |24 1986 |24 1987 |26 1988<1> |25 <1> Provision
Mr. Burns : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will specify the proposed route of the new motorway from the M25 to Chelmsford as announced in the White paper "Roads for Prosperity."
Mr. Peter Bottomley : The first step is for the Department to appoint design agents to investigate possible schemes. Only then shall we have an indication of practicable routes.
Mr. Burns : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what timetable he envisages for the building of the new motorway from the M25 to Chelmsford as announced in the White Paper "Roads for Prosperity" ;
(2) what timetable he envisages for the widening of the Chelmsford A12 by- pass following publication of the White Paper "Roads for Prosperity."
Mr. Peter Bottomley : We shall seek to complete work on these schemes as quickly as possible. Details about timetable will be contained in a roads report to be issued later in the year.
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when the Transport Policy Division of the Welsh Office received letters from county councillor Iwan Edgar, of Pwllheli, dated 21 November 1988, 2 February 1989, and 10 April 1989, and on what dates each of these letters was answered.
Mr. Wyn Roberts : I regret that due to an error a reply to the first letter was not sent. The subsequent letters were repeats of the first letter. A reply has now been sent.
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Mrs. Ann Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give details of which of the standards set in the European Community drinking water directive are regularly exceeded by each of the water supplies in Wales which have been granted derogations.
Mr. Grist : The information is as follows.
The Welsh water authority has been granted derogations under the terms of article 9 of the EC drinking water directive (80/778/EEC) as listed in the following table. Information regarding the monitoring of those supplies is not held by the Department.
Name |Derogated parameter |(1=colour: 6=pH unit; |15=aluminium: 33=iron; |34=manganese) --------------------------------------------------------------------- Nantybwch |34 Garw Levels |33 Strata Florida |34 Ystradfellte |34 Nantymoel |34 Wern Ddu |6 Afon Cwm-y-Llan |15 Penygoyallt |6 Llanfynydd |6, 34 Alwen |1, 34 Georgetown |6, 34 Cwmsymlog |15 Betws-y-coed |34 Garreglwyd |33, 34 Gryn Goch |33 Nantmor |15, 34 Rhyd-Ddu |34 Portis |34 Penyfan |33 Upper Wenallt Springs |33 Cwm Cegr Springs |33 Llanbedr Springs |33 Caerau |34 Llan Penmachno |15, 34 Crai Reservoir |34 Croesor |34 Rhyd |15, 33, 34 Rhydyronen |33 Tir-Gawen |33 Elan |1, 6, 33, 34 Pendinas |34
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66. Mr. Matthew Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he last discussed with a member of the European Commission the question of British compliance with European Community directives on water purity.
Mr. Howard : Last month my noble Friend, the Minister for Housing, Environment and Countryside satisfactorily concluded discussions with the Commission on the enforcement provisions in the Water Bill. A copy of a letter from Commissioner Ripa confirming this was placed in the Library.
Mrs. Ann Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has responded to the reasoned opinion of 14 April about the failure of the United Kingdom to transpose and its failure to apply correctly Council directive 80/778/EC on the quality of drinking water.
Mr. Howard : A response will be made to the Commission this week.
Mr. Andrew McKay : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of planning appeals in the Royal borough of Windsor and Maidenhead he has approved in each of the last five years.
Mr. Chope : The information requested is in the table.
Year |Appeals decided |Appeals allowed |Percentage allowed ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1984-85 |90 |28 |31.1 1985-86 |85 |44 |51.8 1986-87 |109 |54 |49.5 1987-88 |149 |80 |53.7 1988-89 |130 |55 |42.3
Mr. Redwood : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will make it his policy to take into account the results of the investment being made before considering a relaxation of consent levels at the Wargrave sewage works ;
(2) what the discharge levels will be from the Wargrave sewage works when the current round of investment is completed in November ;
(3) what were the consent levels for discharges from the Wargrave sewage works in (a) 1980 and (b) 1983.
Mr. Howard : The consent levels for the works for 1980 and from 1983 up to the present time are set out in milligrammes per litre.
|Suspended Solids |Biochemical Oxygen Demand|Ammonical Nitrogen ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1980 |30 |15 |5 1983 to date |45 |18 |15
The authority has recently undertaken some remedial work at Wargrave and is proposing to undertake further
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improvements as part of its major programme for upgrading sewage treatment works. In connection with this, the authority has submitted an application for a time-limited consent in accordance with the arrangements set out in my announcement on 7 December 1988 at column 199 --to cover the period up to completion of the works. This is being considered by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution who will take into account all relevant factors, including the effects of previous investment together with any representations which are received, before reaching a decision.Mr. Ken Hargreaves : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to amend the Cemetery Clauses Act 1847 to require local authorities to give details of the number of burial spaces available in each grave sold by the authority.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : None, as the Cemetery Clauses Act 1847 no longer applies to local authority cemeteries. A complete code of administration for local authority cemeteries is now provided by the Local Authorities Cemeteries Order 1977 (SI 1977 No. 204) as amended.
Dr. Cunningham : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Copeland of 11 May, Official Report, column 520, if he will place in the Library an analysis of those sewage treatment works in respect of which applications have been made for revised sewage discharge consents, showing for each works (a) its eight- figure national grid reference, (b) the parliamentary constituency in which it is situated, and (c) the local authority area in which it is situated.
Mr. Ridley : The question can be answered only at disproportionate cost. The grid reference for each sewage treatment works is included on the application form submitted to Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution. These forms are available for public inspection at each water authority. The applications themselves, including grid references, have been advertised locally in the press. The other information would have to be specifically compiled and is not relevant to the consideration of the application.
Mr. Speller : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his reply of 6 June, if he will collate the list of consented discharges into the Bristol channel held by Wessex Water, Welsh Water and South West Water ; and if he will publish these.
Mr. Howard : Information on discharge consents is not held by the Department in a form which would allow the identification of discharges in any particular area. Details of consents granted are, however, on the public registers maintained by the water authorities.
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Mr. Heddle : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will arrange for the new town development corporations to make details of their land disposals available to hon. Members by placing them in the Library on a six-monthly basis.
Mr. Trippier : New town development corporations and the Commission for the New Towns published annual reports which contain summary information about their progress in disposing of assets. These reports are laid before the House under the New Towns Act 1981. Discussion of details of land transactions can often involve considerations of commercial confidentiality.
Mr. Heddle : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, if he will introduce procedures to monitor the disposals of land by the new town development corporations.
Mr. Trippier : The Department already monitors new town development corporation land disposals.
Mr. Cox : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many cases of housing harassment have been reported in each of the London boroughs in each of the last three years.
Mr. Trippier : This information is not collected centrally.
Mr. Fraser : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his assessment of how long the tenants on the Angell Town estate will need to consider the consultants' reports on housing action trust areas ; what steps he will be taking to ensure that tenants have access to the reports ; and what resources will be made available to the tenants for these purposes.
Mr. Trippier : As my right hon. Friend announced in his reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Wyre (Mr. Mans) on 16 March, all residents in the proposed trust area in Lambeth have been sent copies of leaflets explaining the consultants' ideas and translations have been made available on request. We have also sent copies of the consultants' reports to tenants' associations, local libraries and advice centres, Lambeth council and to individuals on request. We hope that tenants will play a full part in discussions led by independent consultants about the proposals in the reports and that they will put forward their own ideas. How long these consultations take will depend on how the discussions develop.
Mr. Soley : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of properties owned by his Department in Manchester, Westminster, Suffolk Coastal and the Isles of Scilly are vacant.
Mr. Chope [holding answer 6 June 1989] : As at 31 May 1989, the total number of all properties (that is, residential, office, storage and specialised) owned by the Department of the Environment in each of the four areas was :
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|Total number |Number vacant |Percentage vacant ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Manchester |42 |1 |2.4 Westminster |191 |4 |2.1 Suffolk Coastal |25 |2 |8.0 Isle of Scilly |9 |1 |11.0
Mr. Soley : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of properties owned by local authorities in Manchester, Westminster, Suffolk Coastal and the Isles of Scilly are vacant.
Mr. Trippier [holding answer 6 June 1989] : Based on the information provided by the authorities in their last housing investment programme returns for April 1988, the number of dwellings owned by each of the four authorities was :
|Total number |Number vacant |Percentage vacant ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Manchester |98,665 |5,166 |5.2 Westminster |22,175 |893 |4.0 Suffolk Coastal |5,678 |82 |1.4 Isles of Scilly |141 |1 |0.7
Mr. Menzies Campbell : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has any plans to encourage the use of standard specification returnable bottles ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Forth [holding answer 12 June 1989] : I have been asked to reply.
The Government have no such plans. We know of no evidence that the introduction of legislation or regulation of this nature would have significant benefit to the consumer, to trade and commerce or to the environment. However, the European Commission, in its draft amendment to the EC beverage containers directive (EC/85/339), has proposed that packagers should be required to label their beverage containers with common recyclable or refillable symbols. Discussions are continuing but, if implemented, this amendment would encourage consumers to return a greater number of bottles for refilling or recycling than happens at present.
Mr. Rowe : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security on what basis the personal allowance element of the pensions paid to residents (a) in local authority care or in long-term hospital beds and (b) in the private or voluntary sector is assessed ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : The personal allowance for hospital in-patients has been increased over the years in line with the increases in benefit rates and is now £8.70, expressed in the relevant regulations as equivalent to 20 per cent. of the basic retirement pension rate. The allowance for those in local authority accommodation is fixed at the same rate as that for hospital in-patients. In respect of residents of independent residential care and nursing homes the
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addition for personal expenses is £10.05. This is uprated to reflect changes in prices in the same way as other income support applicable amounts.Mr. Grocott : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what guidelines he follows in determining which journalists are invited to press briefings by his Department.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : Journalists are invited to briefings on the basis of the subject to be discussed.
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list for his Department's local offices in Doncaster and Mexborough, what statistical information he has as to the different reasons given to applicants by social fund officers for nil awards in respect of application for community care grants.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : The latest available information is given in my reply to the hon. Member on 26 April 1989 at column 543-45.
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the number of limited appointments for each year since 1979 for each office of his Department in South Yorkshire.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : The table gives the number of limited period staff appointments in social security offices in South Yorkshire from May 1987 to March 1989. This is the only period during which such appointments have been made.
Limited period appointments |May 1987 to March 1988 |April 1988 to March 1989 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Barnsley East ILO |13 |- Barnsley West ILO |8 |- Doncaster East ILO |14 |- Doncaster West ILO |5 |8 Rotherham South ILO |26 |1 Rotherham North ILO |9 |1 Sheffield North East ILO |19 |- Sheffield North West ILO |19 |- Sheffield South East ILO |16 |5 Sheffield South West ILO |1 |- Wath on Dearne AO |6 |- Goldthorpe NIO |2 |- Mexborough NIO |0 |- |--- |--- Total appointments |138 |15
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Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what training is given to the staff in South Yorkshire following the introduction of new legislation by his Department.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : When new legislation is introduced full consideration is given in advance to the training requirements of all local office staff. Where the change is considered minimal or straightforward, instructions are sent to staff as circulars or amendments to the working manuals. Where the change is more complex or fundamental, additional training and advice material is also provided. This can take a variety of forms ranging from training at a national training centre to local training at the workplace using centrally prepared training material.
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the number of visiting officers employed in each office of his Department in South Yorkshire from 1979 to date.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : We do not collect centrally information on the number of visiting officers employed on visiting work in individual offices. Staffing resources allocated for visiting in the Department's north-eastern region are estimated from available data for the following years.
|Number ---------------------- 1983-84 |388 1984-85 |517 1985-86 |444 1986-87 |395 1987-88 |345 1988-89 |244 1989-90 |125
The figures do not include specialist visiting or visiting from contributory benefits.
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the turnover of staff in each year since 1979 for each office of his Department in South Yorkshire.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : The table lists the turnover of staff in social security offices in South Yorkshire. Turnover includes resignations, retirements, dismissals, deaths and transfers to other offices. It also includes promotions within an office. The information is expressed as a percentage of the staffing complement as at 1 April in each year. Figures are not available for periods prior to April 1984.
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Staff turnover in the South Yorkshire offices 1 April 1984 to 31 1 April 1985 to 31 1 April 1986 to 31 1 April 1987 to 31 1 April 1988 to 31 March 1985 March 1986 March 1987 March 1988 March 1989 Office |Number of leavers |Percent-age of complement|Number of leavers |Percent-age of complement|Number of leavers |Percent-age of complement|Number of leavers |Percent-age of complement|Number of leavers |Percent-age of complement ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Barnsley East ILO |21 |16.41 |14.0 |10.37 |10.5 |6.52 |12.5 |8.44 |13.0 |9.42 Barnsley West ILO |10 |9.61 |11.0 |10.09 |15.5 |12.92 |12.5 |10.96 |10.0 |9.90 Doncaster East ILO |29 |20.71 |14.5 |10.00 |22.0 |12.57 |13.0 |8.44 |8.5 |6.03 Doncaster West ILO |41 |22.40 |23.5 |12.11 |33.5 |16.03 |22.0 |11.52 |15.0 |8.20 Rotherham North ILO |13 |19.12 |8.5 |11.80 |17.5 |21.60 |25.0 |35.21 |4.0 |5.55 Rotherham South ILO |29 |14.95 |33.0 |16.18 |24.5 |10.16 |35.0 |15.62 |22.5 |10.56 Sheffield North East ILO |35 |18.04 |39.5 |18.81 |42.0 |17.57 |26.0 |11.35 |33.0 |15.42 Sheffield North West ILO |42 |22.58 |16.0 |7.51 |44.5 |18.31 |41.5 |19.21 |31.0 |16.58 Sheffield South East ILO |20 |14.18 |9.5 |6.21 |31.0 |18.02 |28.5 |19.00 |22.0 |16.54 Sheffield South West ILO |26 |16.35 |30.0 |17.14 |33.5 |16.18 |22.0 |12.15 |20.0 |12.50 Wath on Deane AO |15 |22.73 |12.5 |17.86 |17.0 |20.00 |13.0 |17.81 |5.0 |8.06 Goldthorpe NIO |2 |12.50 |3.0 |15.79 |3.5 |16.67 |3.0 |15.00 |1.0 |4.76 Mexborough NIO |3 |15.79 |2.0 |9.52 |2.0 |9.52 |3.0 |14.28 |3.0 |14.28
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