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Childhood Cancer
Mr. Cran : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what decision has been reached by the steering committee of the London School of Hygiene's small area statistics unit as to whether to proceed with an investigation into the incidence of childhood cancer in Humberside.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : I wrote to my hon. Friend on 20 June to explain that existing information is being considered by independent export members of the steering committee so that they can advise the committee when it next meets.
Pollution (Wales)
Mrs. Clywd : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on his responsibilities for the control of environmental pollution in Wales.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : I refer the hon. Member to the Department's publication "Protecting Your Environment--A Guide" a copy of which is in the Library of the House. Pages 2 and 3 give a succinct but complete summary of the respective responsibilities of the Secretaries of State for the Environment and for Wales for environment protection.
Rugby Union
Mr. Canavan : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he next expects to meet representatives of rugby union ; and what subjects he expects to discuss.
Mr. Moynihan : I have no plans at present to meet representatives of the Rugby Football Union.
Dioxins
Mr. Boswell : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the report on dioxins will be published ; and if he will make a statement.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : The Department of the Environment has today published a report, "Dioxins in the Environment", in the pollution paper series. It is the report of an interdepartmental working group on polychlorinated dibenzo-para-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans. The report is the culmination of work on dioxins which began two years ago. Copies have been placed in the Library.
The main purpose of the report is to make available the best information we have on dioxins from the United
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Kingdom and elsewhere. There is an analysis of what this means in terms of possible human health effects and environmental impact. Advice on the health effects of dioxins from the Department of Health's independent advisory committee on toxicity of chemicals in food, consumer products and the environment is also included in the report.It recommends that the major sources of dioxins should be identified and appropriate measures taken to reduce inputs of dioxins to food, consumer products and the environment.
The Government welcome this advice and have already taken steps to implement the committee's recommendations.
The report has been compiled jointly by the central directorate for environmental protection in DOE, the Department of Health, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the Department of Trade and Industry and the Health and Safety Executive.
Drinking Water
Mrs. Ann Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment 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 England which have been granted derogations.
Mr. Howard [holding answer 14 June 1989] : A list has been placed in the Library of those supplies which regularly exceed the EC drinking water directive in respect of the standard indicated and have been granted derogations by the Department under the terms of article 9 of the directive. Such derogations can be granted only where the situation is due to the nature and structure of the ground and there is no public health risk.
Catalytic Converters
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if, following the agreement of European Community Environment Ministers in Luxembourg on 9 June on the use of catalytic converters in small cars from December 1992, he has made an assessment of the increased contribution to the greenhouse effect that will be caused by carbon dioxide and water vapour released in exhaust gases from United Kingdom-based cars, in the period to the year 2000.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley [holding answer 19 June 1989] : Yes. A United Kingdom fleet of 3-way catalyst cars would emit about 7.5 million tonnes per annum more carbon dioxide than a fleet of vehicles conforming to the standards of the common position reached by Environment Ministers last November. The emission of water vapour from cars does not have a significant input on the greenhouse effect.
Chlorofluorocarbons
Mr. Cryer : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the progress on phasing out aerosols containing chlorofluorocarbon propellants ; and if he expects to introduce legislation making the sale of such items illegal.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley [holding answer 21 June 1989] : Members of the British Aerosol Manufacturers
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Association are well on course to meet the objective of eliminating the non-essential use of chlorofluorocarbons in their products by the end of this year. Legislation to this effect is not needed in the circumstances.English Heritage
Mr. Strang : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if English Heritage has any plans to commission a study of the archaeology of waterlogged urban centres.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley [holding answer 21 June 1989] : I understand that English Heritage intends to fund a number of archaeological surveys in urban areas. These will include waterlogged sites.
Environmental Impact Assessment
Mr. Strang : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to issue guidance to archaeological bodies on environmental impact assessment and monitoring.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley [holding answer 21 June 1989] : No. The broad principle of requiring information on the effect of proposed development being available before planning applications are considered will be discussed in guidance on "archaeology and planning", which is being prepared for local authorities, developers and archaeologists.
Repairs Grants
Mr. Nicholas Bennett : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment on what date English local authorities were first informed of changes in the amount of mandatory repairs grant from 75 per cent. to 20 per cent. for landlords under sections 130 and 131 of the Housing Act 1988 ; and on what date they came into effect.
Mr. Trippier : Local authorities in England were notified of proposed changes in the rate of intermediate and mandatory repairs grants for landlords in a letter from the Department dated 14 December 1988, following consultation with the local authority associations in November. These changes were given effect by the Grants by Local Housing Authorities (Appropriate Percentage and Exchequer Contributions) Order 1989 (SI 1989 No. 72), made under sections 509 and 517 of the Housing Act 1985, which came into foce on 19 January 1989.
ENERGY
Fossil Fuels
Mr. Dykes : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what recent disussions he has held on concepts of fossil fuel utilisation fiscal devices to enhance or reduce the consumption of such energy sources.
Mr. Parkinson : I have had a number of recent discussions with my officials and others about the details of the levy on fossil fuel use for power generation, provision for which is included in the Electricity Bill now before Parliament.
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Electricity Privatisation
Mr.Campbell-Savours : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether he intends to make any further appointments to regulatory posts covering the privatised electricity industry.
Mr. Michael Spicer : No. Under the terms of the Electricity Bill it is the Director General of Electricity Supply who will be empowered to appoint the staff of the Office of Electricity Regulation, subject to Treasury approval of their numbers and conditions of service.
SCOTLAND
Sheriff Courts
Dr. Reid : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects publication of the report by Dr. Carol Jones of Edinburgh university on contested cases in the Scottish sheriff courts.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : Dr. Carol Jones' report on contested cases in the Scottish sheriff courts has not yet been submitted in final form. The question of publication will be considered after it has been submitted.
Dr. Reid : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects publication of the report by Dr. Kenneth Miller of Strathclyde university on delays in summarising clinical cases in the sheriff courts in Scotland.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : I hope to be able to publish Dr. Kenneth Miller's report on delay in summary criminal proceedings in the sheriff courts during the summer.
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Forestry Commission Land
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the value of sales so far of Forestry Commission land ; and if he will make a statement.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : Receipts from the disposal of land and property from the start of the disposals programme in 1981 to 31 March 1989 amounted to some £124 million.
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to sell off, and over what period of time, Forestry Commission woodland ; and if he will make a statement.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : I refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. and learned Friend gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Dumfries (Sir H. Monro) on 16 June at columns 544-45.
Tree Planting
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing the total planting between 1 April 1988 and 31 March 1989 in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, respectively, in each of the categories (a) Forestry Commission direct planting, (b) private planting assisted by the woodland grant scheme, (c) planting under the farm woodland scheme, (d) other assisted private planting and (e) other non-assisted planting.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : The information, showing new planting (NP) and restocking (R), is as follows :
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Hectares
England Scotland Wales
|NP |R |NP |R |NP |R
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(a) |Forestry Commission direct planting |130 |2,890 |3,860 |3,980 |60 |1,720
(b) |Planting under woodland grant scheme |150 |150 |150 |160 |20 |10
(c) |Planting under farm woodland scheme |110 |- |10 |- |- |-
(d) |Planting under other Forestry Commission grant schemes|1,490 |2,180 |22,270 |2,090 |900 |250
(e) |Other non-assisted |140 |100 |40 |- |- |-
The figures given for categories (b), (c) and (d) are the areas on which planting grant was paid by the Forestry Commission during the period 1 April 1988 to 31 March 1989.
The situation in Northern Ireland is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
Health Service
Mr. Allan Stewart : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been achieved as a result of competitive tendering in the National Health Service in Scotland.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : Since the last general election savings from competitive tendering have increased from £600,000 to £29 million from 81 contracts for ancillary services. That represents substantial additional resources for patient care in Scotland's Health Service over the next three to four years. Almost three quarters of the contracts have been won by in-house teams. The success
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of the competitive tendering programme so far has encouraged health boards to press ahead with further tendering.Water Quality
Mr. Malcolm Bruce : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the water supply at Lochaber is in breach of European Community guidelines for aluminium content, or for any other additives, metals or pesticides.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 19 June 1989] : Lochaber district is served by numerous public water supplies ; which have differing qualities. These supplies are the responsibility of the Highland regional council from which information on any particular supply may be obtained. A number of supplies in the area contain naturally derived aluminium at concentrations which occasionally exceed the European standard but on average are below it. Work to reduce the lead content of water at consumers' taps
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in lead-plumbed properties is virtually complete. No supply has been found to contain other metals or pesticides in excess of the EC standards.Forestry Commission (Wildlife)
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the last advice he received from the Nature Conservancy Council concerning the practice of blocking of badger setts and digging of fox earths by fox hunters on Foresty Commission land.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [pursuant to his reply, 21 June 1989 ; c. 127] : The Forestry Commission has an earth stopper's code whichis designed to prevent undue interference with badger setts and fox earths.
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SOCIAL SECURITY
Social Fund
Ms. Mowlam : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish a table, similar to the one printed on 15 May, Official Report, columns 76-78, in reply to the hon. Member for Leeds, West, (Mr. Battle) but in respect of his Department's local offices at Eston, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Stockton, showing reasons for social fund loan and grant refusals during the period April 1988 to March 1989.
Mr. Peter Lloyd [holding answer 9 June 1989] : The information requested is set out in the table.
The proportions have been calculated as percentages of the total number of reasons for refusal. The total number of reasons for refusal may equal or exceed the total number of refusals because the social fund officer can give more than one reason for refusing an application.
I refer the hon. Member to my pursuant reply to the hon. Member for Leeds, West (Mr. Battle) today.
Reasons for refusal of Social Fund loans and grants 1988-89
Grants Loans
|Number of times reason |As percent of total times |Number of times reason |As percent of total times
|given |reason given |given |reason given
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Office: Eston ILO
Savings over £500 sufficient to
meet cost |3 |0.9 |0 |0
Not in receipt of IS |n/a |n/a |107 |6.4
Not in receipt of IS for 26 weeks |n/a |n/a |300 |17.8
Not in receipt of IS and unlikely
to become entitled |30 |8.9 |n/a |n/a
Excluded items |11 |3.3 |81 |4.8
Excluded persons |11 |3.3 |2 |0.1
Amount <£30 (not travelling
expenses |9 |2.7 |52 |3.1
Total debt of £1,000 |n/a |n/a |1 |0.1
Previous application and
decision for the item |10 |3.0 |78 |4.6
No serious damage or risk to
health or safety |n/a |47 |2.8
Inability to repay |n/a |8 |0.5
Help available from another
source |6 |1.8 |6 |0.4
Insufficient SF funds, priority
too low |8 |2.4 |929 |55.1
Suitable alternative available |1 |0.3 |3 |0.2
Loan refused because CCG
awarded |n/a |n/a |31 |1.8
Other |248 |73.6 |40 |2.4
|--- |---
|337 |1,685
Office: Hartlepool ILO
Savings over £500 sufficient to
meet cost |3 |0.6 |2 |0.1
Not in receipt of IS |n/a |- |156 |25.4
Not in receipt of IS for 26 weeks |n/a |- |434 |24.9
Not in receipt of IS and unlikely
to become entitled |72 |13.4 |n/a |n/a
Excluded items |26 |4.8 |81 |4.6
Excluded persons |10 |1.9 |2 |0.1
Amount <£30 (not travelling
expenses |18 |3.3 |52 |3.0
Total debt of £1,000 |n/a |- |1 |0.1
Previous application and
decision for the item |22 |4.1 |78 |4.5
No serious damage or risk to
health or safety |n/a |- |77 |4.4
Inability to repay |n/a |- |84 |4.8
Help available from another
source |9 |- |62 |3.6
|Insufficient SF funds, priority
too low |25 |4.6 |583 |33.4
Suitable alternative available |4 |0.7 |17 |1.0
Loan refused because CCG
awarded |n/a |- |31 |1.8
Other |350 |64.9 |85 |4.9
|--- |---
|539 |1,745
Office: Middlesborough ILO
Savings over £500 sufficient to
meet cost |7 |0.6 |3 |0.1
Not in receipt of IS |n/a |- |283 |8.1
Not in receipt of IS for 26 weeks |n/a |- |562 |16.1
Not in receipt of IS and unlikely
to become entitled |88 |7.1 |n/a |-
Excluded items |42 |3.4 |180 |5.2
Excluded persons |67 |5.4 |3 |0.1
Amount <£30 (not travelling
expenses |23 |1.9 |103 |3.0
Total debt of £1,000 |n/a |n/a |3 |0.1
Previous application and
decision for the item |40 |3.2 |132 |3.8
No serious damage or risk to
health or safety |n/a |n/a |199 |5.7
Inability to repay |n/a |n/a |77 |2.2
Help available from another
source |8 |0.6 |17 |0.5
Insufficient SF funds, priority
too low |124 |10.0 |1,600 |45.8
Suitable alternative available |11 |0.9 |38 |1.1
Loan refused because CCG
awarded |n/a |- |128 |3.7
Other |829 |66.9 |163 |4.7
|--- |---
|1,239 |- |3,491 |-
Office: Redcar ILO
Savings over £500 sufficient to
meet cost |5 |1.1 |0 |0.0
Not in receipt of IS |n/a |- |90 |8.1
Not in receipt of IS for 26 weeks |n/a |- |273 |24.5
Not in receipt of IS and unlikely
to become entitled |56 |12.1 |n/a |-
Excluded items |30 |6.5 |84 |7.5
Excluded persons |0 |- |2 |0.2
Amount < £30 (not travelling
expenses) |14 |3.0 |31 |2.8
Total debt of £1,000 |n/a |n/a |0 |0.0
Previous application and
decision for the item |8 |1.7 |36 |3.2
No serious damage or risk to
health or safety |n/a |n/a |40 |3.6
Inability to repay |n/a |n/a |46 |4.1
Help available from another
source |5 |1.1 |19 |1.7
Insufficient SF funds, priority
too low |162 |35.0 |404 |36.3
Suitable alternative available |1 |0.2 |1 |0.1
Loan refused because CCG
awarded |n/a |n/a |55 |4.9
Other |182 |39.3 |32 |2.9
|--- |--- |--- |---
|463 |- |1,113 |-
Office: Stockton ILO
Savings over £500 sufficient to
meet cost |3 |0.2 |1 |.0
Not in receipt of IS |136 |10.5 |265 |10.2
Not in receipt of IS for 26 weeks |n/a |n/a |453 |17.5
Not in receipt of IS and unlikely |n/a |n/a |- |-
to become entitled |136 |10.5 |n/a |n/a
Excluded items |49 |3.8 |149 |5.7
Excluded persons |260 |20.0 |8 |0.3
|Amount <£30 (not travelling
expenses) |24 |1.9 |73 |2.8
Total debt of £1,000 |n/a |- |0 |.0
Previous application and
decision for the item |65 |5.0 |117 |4.5
No serious damage or risk to
health or safety |n/a |n/a |134 |5.2
Inability to repay |n/a |n/a |251 |9.7
Help available from another
source |13 |1.0 |39 |1.5
Insufficient SF funds, priority
too low |17 |1.3 |885 |34.1
Suitable alternative available |2 |0.2 |10 |0.4
Loan refused because CCG
awarded |n/a |- |118 |4.5
Other |588 |45.3 |91 |3.5
|------- |------- |------- |-------
|1,293 |2,594
n/a-Not applicable.
Mr. Battle : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if, further to his reply on 4 May, Official Report, column 220, he will categorise the reasons for the remaining social fund loan refusals and community care grant refusals for the year 11 April 1988 to 31 March 1989.
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Mr. Peter Lloyd [pursuant to his reply, 15 May 1989 c. 76-78.] : I regret that the reply given has been found to contain an error. The information requested with the amended figures is as follows :--
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Reasons for refusal of Social Fund loans and grants 1988-89
Loans Grants
|Number of times reason|As a per cent. of all |Number of times reason|As a per cent. of all
|given |reasons for refusals |given |reasons for refusals
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Savings over £500 sufficient to
meet cost |938 |0.3 |2,498 |1.7
Not in receipt of IS |35,613 |9.6 |n/a |n/a
Not in receipt of IS for 26 weeks |99,907 |27.0 |n/a |n/a
Not in receipt of IS and unlikely
to become entitled |n/a |n/a |15,842 |10.6
Excluded items |30,759 |8.3 |9,563 |6.4
Excluded persons |1,094 |0.3 |13,734 |9.2
Amount < £30 (not travelling
expenses) |11,952 |3.2 |3,707 |2.5
Total debt of £1,000 |198 |0.1 |n/a |n/a
Previous application and SFO
decision for this item |14,639 |4.0 |5,071 |3.4
No serious danger or risk to
health or safety |24,266 |6.6 |0 |0.0
Inability to repay |14,971 |4.0 |0 |0.0
Help available from another
source |8,281 |2.2 |2,136 |1.4
Insufficient SF funds, priority
too low |84,027 |22.7 |13,419 |9.0
Other agencies not providing
back-up |n/a |n/a |85 |0.1
Suitable alternative available |3,978 |1.1 |1,177 |0.8
Loan refused-CC6 awarded |14,725 |4.0 |n/a |n/a
Other |25,113 |6.8 |82,400 |55.1
Note: Percentages may sum to more than 100 due to rounding.
Family Credit
Mrs. Beckett : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many new claims for family credit were made, how many were decided and how many awards resulted in each week since the beginning of April 1989 ; how many renewal claims, decisions and awards were made ; how many existing awards expired and were not renewed ; and what was the net increase in the number of current awards.
Mr. Scott [holding answer 13 June 1989] : The available information is as follows :
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|Registrations<1>|Decisions |Awards
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
New Claims
Week ending:-
7 April |7,639 |7,535 |4,383
14 April |8,697 |7,656 |4,597
21 April |16,995 |8,554 |4,660
28 April |22,867 |10,926 |5,018
5 May |17,881 |10,975 |4,191
12 May |24,166 |15,740 |5,541
19 May |26,267 |17,141 |6,038
26 May |26,586 |14,003 |4,714
2 June |17,803 |12,990 |4,150
9 June |20,927 |23,886 |8,744
16 June |17,014 |21,968 |8,391
Renewal claims
Week ending:-
7 April |7,795 |6,615 |5,799
14 April |7,600 |7,152 |6,394
21 April |7,425 |7,115 |6,325
28 April |6,475 |6,912 |6,124
5 May |4,770 |5,044 |4,371
12 May |7,705 |5,978 |5,207
19 May |8,572 |5,902 |5,100
26 May |9,115 |4,652 |4,025
2 June |7,552 |4,263 |3,592
9 June |8,713 |8,854 |7,662
16 June |6,938 |8,381 |7,213
45,964 awards expired in April, and 64,345 in May, and 44,038 are due to expire in
June<2>.
<1> Some claims received each week were not registered until the following week. On
16 June, 1,127 claims were awaiting registration.
<2> Figures for awards expiring are available only on a monthly basis. No
information is available about how many of the awards expiring were not renewed.
The number of current awards is not available on a weekly basis. At the end of March 253,500 awards were actually in payment, and at 18 June this had risen to 255,702.
Mrs. Beckett : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the average amount of family credit awarded in each week since the beginning of April 1989.
Mr. Scott [holding answer 13 June 1989] : I regret that the information requested is not available. The latest information relates to all awards of family credit in payment on 18 June 1989, when the average amount was estimated to be just over £25. This is broadly the same as the average amount in payment in March 1989.
Form RR4
Mr. Andrew Bowden : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if form RR4 is available in all post offices ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Peter Lloyd [holding answer 16 June 1989] : Leaflet RR4 "Housing Benefit--new rules" is no longer available in all post offices.
From mid-June 1988 to the beginning of April 1989 the leaflet was on display in all Crown post offices. It was removed two months ago at the time of the benefit upratings and changes in some benefit rules. In Crown post offices the four A5 format leaflet display space that the department purchases is now occupied by information on family credit, housing benefit, NHS costs, and in Scotland, community charge rebate.
In sub-post offices, whilst leaflets such as RR4 are sent to all of them, neither the Department nor the Post Office has the power to instruct that these leaflets should be displayed or given out. As independent retailers sub-postmasters/mistresses can only be requested to do so.
TRANSPORT
Road Accidents
Mr. Sheerman : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to implement recommendation 23 of the efficiency scrutiny into his
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Department's activities in relation to local authorities' capital expenditure on roads, published in November 1988, which would allow accident investigation and prevention schemes on local roads to be eligible for transport supplementary grant.Mr. Peter Bottomley : When the efficiency scrutiny report was published last month, I said that there were seven recommendations which the Department wished to discuss with the local authority associations. Recommendation 23 is one of those.
Officials of the associations reported the views of their members on the matter at a meeting on 7 June. I expect that it will be discussed when my right hon. Friend and I meet representatives of the associations on 4 July.
LRT (Fares)
Mr. Spearing : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are his current instructions to London Regional Transport concerning the level of fares ; when they were published and in what form ; which instructions or guidelines they replaced ; and when he modified his instruction that fare increases should, in general, parallel changes in the cost of living index.
Mr. Portillo : An initial remit has been given to the new LRT chairman, Mr. Wilfrid Newton. This was set out in a written answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to the hon. Member for Richmond and Barnes on 22 March at columns 594-95. It asked the chairman for proposals for a management, investment and financial strategy which aims to give London safe and reliable rail and bus services ; provides good value for money ; and, so far as possible, transfers costs from the taxpayer to the passengers and other beneficiaries. It gives no specific instructions on fare levels. This remit replaced the objectives given to the then chairman of LRT on 20 July 1984.
Computer Reservation Systems
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Romsey and Waterside (Mr. Colvin) on 8 June, Official Report, column 219, whether he will summarise the additional requirements concerning the disclosure of personal information described in the code of conduct about computer reservation systems produced by the European Community.
Mr. Peter Bottomley : Subject to national legislation on security, public order and data protection, personal information concerning a consumer and generated by a travel agent may be made available by the system vendor to those not involved in the transaction only with the consent of the consumer.
M25
Mr. McCrindle : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many possible routes of the proposed motorway from the M25 to Chelmsford he has asked his officials to investigate ;
(2) when he expects to appoint consultancy engineers to determine the route of the proposed motorway from the M25 to Chelmsford.
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Mr. Peter Bottomley : We expect to appoint design agents later this year. When they have carried out preliminary investigations we shall have an indication of practicable options.
Mr. McCrindle : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what environmental considerations will be taken into account in determining the route of the motorway from the M25 to Chelmsford.
Mr. Peter Bottomley : Choice of route is generally a balance of environmental, economic and operational considerations. Subject to that, we shall seek to adopt the route and solution which does the least environmental damage. On deciding on the options we shall as usual carry out a full environmental assessment.
Coastal Waters (Chemicals)
Mr. Malcolm Bruce : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he holds concerning chemicals in drums or containers which have sunk within 100 miles of the British coast in the last 30 years ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Michael Portillo : On each occasion of a loss of packaged chemicals into the sea from a ship being reported to the marine pollution control unit a decision is taken on scientific advice as to whether it is necessary to relocate and recover the chemical to protect the marine environment. Where it is not, no permanent record of the incident is maintained and the location of the lost chemical is generally unknown. Accordingly, the only detailed record held by the Department stems from the only chemical salvage operation carried out by the MPCU to date. This was after the mv Perintis sank in United Kingdom waters near the channel light vessel in March, 1989. All 12 of the drums of Cypermethrin and 16 of the drums of Permethrin carried by the vessel were successfully recovered, leaving four 50 kg drums of Permethrin which could not be found. 5.8 tonnes of Lindane from the same vessel floated off from the wreck in a commercial container was subsequently lost in the approaches to Cherbourg while under tow by a French tug, and its location remains unknown. Four tonnes of PCB contained in four electrical transformers were lost in the Piper Alpha disaster in July, 1988 and remain unlocated.
HEALTH
National Health Service (Reform)
Mr. Canavan : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many representations he has received to date on the White Paper "Working for Patients" ; and how many have been critical of the Government's proposals.
Mr. Mellor : We have received over 7,500 representations on the White Paper, "Working for Patients". Many ask questions, many support all or some of the proposals, some refer only to specific aspects. It is not possible to distinguish the letters in the way the hon. Member suggests.
Mr. Adley : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many letters from members of the public about the
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proposed changes in the National Health Service, to which he has replied, have resulted in further correspondence from the writer.Mr. Mellor : We have dealt with over 5,500 letters from members of the public about the White Paper "Working for Patients" ; a very small number has resulted in further correspondence from the writer.
Mr. Lofthouse : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will instruct the chairman of the Wakefield family practitioner committee to arrange a meeting between the full family practitioner committee and local Members of Parliament to discuss the White Paper "Working for Patients".
Mr. Mellor [holding answer 19 June 1989] : No.
Speech Therapy
Mr. Win Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to develop speech therapy services ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Mellor : It is for individual health authorities to determine the appropriate level of provision of their speech therapy services, having regard to local circumstances, competing priorities and available resources. The number of speech therapists employed in the National Health Service in England has risen by nearly 75 per cent. since 1979 and expenditure on speech therapy services has increased by 100 per cent. in real terms over the same period.
Census Questions
Rev. Martin Smyth : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to inform the public in advance of the census ; what purpose is intended in including in the census questions on educational qualifications ; what use will be made of the answers to these questions ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Freeman : The information requested is given in the White Paper "1991 Census of Population", Cm. 430, published on 19 July 1988, a copy of which is in the Library. Publicity and information about the census is covered in paragraphs 45 and 46 and a statement on the purpose and uses of the proposed question on higher educational and professional qualifications is given at paragraph 23.5.
Patients (Documentation)
Mr. David Nicholson : To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has any proposals to expedite the transfer of patients' National Health Service administrative documents between general practitioner practices, when required by patients' removal, avoiding processing by family practitioner committees and the central registry in Southport ; and if he will make a statement.
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