Previous Section | Home Page |
Column 64
Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for which areas of the city of Belfast applications for urban development grants are still approved.
Mr. Needham : Urban development grant applications may, in principle, still be accepted throughout the Belfast city council area. However, in February 1988, it was decided that, since demand exceeded resources, funds should be focused upon the areas of greatest need in the city.
Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many applications for urban development grants for projects at Royal avenue, Belfast have been approved in each of the past five years.
Mr. Needham : The information requested is as follows :
|Numbers ------------------------ 1985 |1 1986 |2 1987 |5 1988 |2 1989* |2 * To date.
Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) representations in total and (b) objections he has received in connection with the proposal for a declaration of an area of special scientific interest at Strangford lough ; and what proposals he has to rescind or modify this declaration of an area of special scientific interest.
Mr. Peter Bottomley : Scientific advisers have said the ASSI declaration is justified. We have consulted/discussed the proposed declaration over 580 times with affected local owners and local users, among others. Eighty individuals or groups have made representations or objections, or a mixture of the two, in writing. These responses will be carefully considered before a final decision is taken to confirm, with or without modification, or rescind the declaration.
Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many objections he has received to the planning application for change of use from light engineering to pet foods processing for premises at 268 Balygowan road, Crossnacreevy, Castlereagh ; what assessment has been made of potential smells from the proposed plant ; what is the shortest distance from the proposed food plant to residential property ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Needham : I have today written to the right hon. Gentleman giving the information requested.
Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many objections were received in connection with planning application No. X/89/0611
Column 65
for a proposed bungalow at 82/90 Ballybunden road, Killinchy, Newtownards ; what was the closing date for receipt of objections ; on what date he issued a planning decision ; and on what date work commenced on site ;(2) how many persons objected to planning application No. X/89/0175 for the conversion of a dwelling at 21 Ann street, Newtownards into two self- contained flats ; what was the decision of Ards borough council in relation to this application ; what is his planning decision ; and what complaints have been received in relation to these premises in the past 12 months.
Mr. Needham : I have today written to the right hon. Gentleman giving the information requested.
Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people are on the waiting list for homes in the boroughs of Ards and Castlereagh ; how
Column 66
many homes were constructed by the Housing Executive in these two boroughs during each of the past five years ; and how many new homes are planned by the Housing Executive in these two boroughs in each of the next five years.Mr. Peter Bottomley : These are matters for the Housing Executive, but I am advised by the chairman that over 700 new homes are planned for Ards and Castlereagh in the next five years and that at 31 August 1989 the number of people on the waiting list in the boroughs of Ards and Castlereagh was 877 and 846 respectively.
The number of new dwellings started by the Housing Executive in the two boroughs in each of the past five years and the number planned in each of the next five years is shown in the table. Figures for individual years in the period 1991-94 are not available.
Column 65
|Belfast |Maze |Maghaberry|Magilligan|YOC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Roman Catholic |256 |312 |111 |126 |75 Church of Ireland |112 |60 |71 |49 |38 Presbyterian |118 |50 |45 |52 |30 Free Presbyterian |17 |545 |32 |15 |? Methodist |21 |12 |8 |7 |2 Others |36 |23 |24 |14 |4
Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many prisoners there are of each denomination at each prison in Northern Ireland.
Column 66
Mr. Cope : The information that is readily available is set out in the table :
Column 65
|Belfast |Maze |Maghaberry|Magilligan|YOC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Roman Catholic |256 |312 |111 |126 |75 Church of Ireland |112 |60 |71 |49 |38 Presbyterian |118 |50 |45 |52 |30 Free Presbyterian |17 |545 |32 |15 |? Methodist |21 |12 |8 |7 |2 Others |36 |23 |24 |14 |4
Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the condition of the former Ballyoran primary school ; when he received an application from Castlereagh borough council to take over this school ; and when he proposes to make a decision.
Dr. Mawhinney : The premises of the former Ballyoran primary school, which are owned by the South-Eastern education and library board, are in a poor condition as a result of considerable vandalism. The Department of Education first received an inquiry from Castlereagh borough council regarding the possibility of grant-aid towards the purchase of the former Ballyoran primary school on 22 September 1987.
The Department has no objection to the acquisition by the council of these premises. However, the terms of the disposal of the premises and the land are matters for consideration in the first instance by the South-Eastern education and library board.
Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on traffic conditions in the centre of Comber ; and what is the present programme for the construction of Comber by-pass.
Column 66
Mr. Peter Bottomley : Traffic difficulties exist in Comber particularly at peak hours. Stage 2 of the Comber bypass is programmed to commence in April 1992.
Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on what dates in 1988 and 1989 the fixed charges in the Northern Ireland Electricity accounts for both domestic and commercial consumers were increased ; and what were the percentage increases in each case.
Mr. Needham : Northern Ireland Electricity's fixed (standing) charges increased on 1 April in each of these two years. The increases were 6.6 per cent. and 20.9 per cent. respectively for domestic and 7.6 per cent. and 36.1 per cent. for commercial consumers. After taking account of changes in unit charges, the average overall increases in NIE tariffs were 9 per cent. and 6.1 per cent. respectively in the two years.
Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the restrictions for opening hours in the planning permission for Cairnshill filling station, 221 Smithfields road, Castlereagh, BT8, Co. Down.
Column 67
Mr. Needham : I have today written to the right hon. Gentleman giving the information requested.
Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is his policy on accepting new applications for urban development grants for projects in the towns of Enniskillen, Omagh, Strabane, Armagh, Dungannon and Cookstown.
Mr. Needham : There are insufficient resources under the urban development grant scheme (which is funded by moneys voted by Parliament) to pay grants outside Belfast and Londonderry. The International Fund for Ireland has made grants available in district towns and other urban areas under the urban development programme. I have asked the chairman of the fund board to write to the right hon. Gentleman.
Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the latest figure for egg production in Northern Ireland ; what it was 12 months prior to that date ; and if he will make a statement on the future of egg production.
Mr. Peter Bottomley : The high-quality egg industry in Northern Ireland makes, and will continue to make, a valuable contribution to the local economy. The estimated throughput of graded eggs at Northern Ireland's registered packing stations for the week ending 1 October 1989 was 37,000 cases (30 dozen eggs per case), compared with 43,000 cases in the corresponding week in 1988. The level of throughput is below that of the year before, but average price levels are substantially higher.
Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the planned traffic density from the proposed new hotel on the site of the former playing fields of Stranmillis college at Shaw's bridge, Castlereagh ; whether he has approved this increase of traffic on to the main road at Shaw's bridge ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Needham : I have today written to the right hon. Gentleman giving the information requested.
Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the present enrolment at Ballyvester primary school ; what was the enrolment at this school during each of the past five years ; how many new pupils were admitted to the school at the beginning of the new academic year ; and how many applications for admission to Ballyvester primary school for the current academic year were refused.
Dr. Mawhinney : The information is as follows :
|Enrolment |pupils ----------------------------------- January 1985 |54 January 1986 |71 January 1987 |77 January 1988 |75 January 1989 |77 September 1989 |78
In September 1989, 13 pupils were admitted ; 16 were refused admission.
Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the present waiting period to have vehicles tested at the Department of Environment vehicle testing centre in Newtownards ; what change has taken place in the levels of employment at this centre during the past 12 months ; what complaints he has received about delays at this centre ; what proposals he has to privatise vehicle testing ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Peter Bottomley : The waiting time is too long. The present appointment waiting time for vehicle tests at the Newtownards centre is five weeks for goods vehicles and five and a half weeks for private cars.
There has been no change in the levels of employment at this centre during the past 12 months. One vacancy since August, due to promotion, will be filled this month.
We are not aware of specific written complaints about delays at this centre.
We have commissioned management consultants to review the present vehicle testing arrangements and to propose how the function might be carried out in future. The Department of Environment is currently considering the consultants' report and will consult the unions before deciding on proposals to achieve a better service for vehicle users.
Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what planning permission exists for the hill adjacent to the Wind Mill, Ballycopeland, Millisle ; when this permission expires ; and what current planning applications for this site are under consideration.
Mr. Needham : I have today written to the right hon. Gentleman giving the information requested.
Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proposals he has for improvements at Drumadoon drive, Ballybeen relating to road safety ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Peter Bottomley : We will keep the incidence of injury accidents on the road under investigation. We will consider remedial action if this proves necessary.
Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proposals he has for improvements at Grahamsbridge road, Dundonald ; when is it expected that work will commence on site ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Peter Bottomley : An improvement scheme is planned at Grahamsbridge road, Dundonald. It will
Column 69
embrace the widening of the existing carriageway, provision of a footway and improvement of sightlines. Work on site should start in January 1990.Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent representations he has made about the present restrictions imposed upon day-trippers visiting Northern Ireland by the Government of the Republic of Ireland ; when he last discussed this subject at a meeting of the Anglo-Irish Ministerial Council ; when he last made representations to the Commission of the European Community about this subject ; and when this matter will be heard by the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg.
Mr. Brooke : We have made clear to the Irish Government through a number of channels, including the Intergovernmental Conference, our concern about their restrictions on travellers' allowances. When the restrictions were imposed in 1987, we brought them to the attention of the European Commission, who later the same year referred the case to the European Court of Justice. Written pleadings have been exchanged at the court, and the United Kingdom has submitted observations in support of the Commission. The court declared the written procedure closed in August, but has not yet fixed a date for oral hearing.
Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he proposes to publish the report of the public inquiry into the Belfast urban area plan.
Mr. Needham : The Department of Environment for Northern Ireland received the second and final part of the Planning Appeals Commission's report on 4 October. The Department is at present considering the report and will publish it along with its adoption statement on the Belfast urban area plan as soon as possible.
Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which churches have appointed chaplains to each of the prisons in Northern Ireland.
Mr. Cope : The Roman Catholic Church, the Church of Ireland, the Presbyterian Church and the Methodist Church have each appointed chaplains to each of the prisons in Northern Ireland.
Column 70
Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which religious denominations have appointed chaplains to the integrated school at Lagan college.
Dr. Mawhinney : The appointment of chaplains to schools is a matter for school authorities.
Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on how many occasions in each of the past 10 years the Department of Education exercised its power of direction in the case of education and library boards for acting or proposing to act unreasonably in the discharge of their functions under the Education and Libraries (Northern Ireland) Orders.
Dr. Mawhinney : Two such directions were issued to education and library boards in 1983.
Mr. Maclennan : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will list in the Official Report the number of community service orders and referrals which have been made by (a) the Wick sheriff court and (b) the Dornoch sheriff court in each year since the community service scheme commenced in Caithness and Sutherland in September 1985, giving the category of offence to which the orders related ;
(2) if he will list in the Official Report the number of fines imposed by (a) the Wick sheriff court and (b) the Dornoch sheriff court in 1986 and each subsequent year, giving the category of offence to which the fines related ;
(3) if he will list in the Official Report the number of those who have received custodial sentences of less than 12 months at (a) the Wick sheriff court and (b) the Dornoch sheriff court in 1986 and each subsequent year, giving the category of offence to which the sentences related.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : The information available is set out in the table. Crimes have been grouped using the Scottish Home and Health Department's classification of crimes and offences. Information on community service referrals is not collected centrally.
Column 69
Wick Sheriff Court Dornoch Sheriff Court Persons receiving Persons given Persons receiving Persons receiving Persons receiving Persons receiving fines custodial sentences of community service fines custodial sentences of community service less than one year orders<2> less than one year orders<2> Crime/Offence |1986 |1987 |<1>1988 |1986 |1987 |<1>1988 |1985 |1986 |1987 |<1>1988 |1986 |1987 |<1>1988 |1986 |1987 |<1>1988 |1985 |1986 |1987 |<1>1988 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total crimes and |477 |414 |419 |22 |26 |25 |11 |19 |24 |21 |206 |179 |161 |8 |3 |2 |3 |8 |2 |8 offences Total crimes |90 |92 |66 |16 |19 |18 |9 |15 |11 |15 |35 |20 |18 |7 |3 |2 |3 |6 |2 |4 Non-sexual crimes of |6 |2 |3 |1 |- |- |1 |- |1 |1 |1 |1 |- |- |- |- |- |1 |- |- violence Homicide |2 |- |1 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- Serious assault etc. |4 |1 |- |1 |- |- |- |- |- |- |1 |- |- |- |- |- |- |1 |- |- Handling offensive |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |1 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- weapons Robbery |- |- |1 |- |- |- |1 |- |- |1 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- Other |- |1 |1 |- |- |- |- |- |1 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- Crimes of indecency |1 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- Sexual assault |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- Lewd and libidinous |1 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- practices Other |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- Crimes of dishonesty |59 |75 |40 |10 |15 |18 |7 |12 |8 |13 |21 |8 |12 |7 |3 |2 |2 |4 |2 |4 Housebreaking |7 |13 |2 |- |8 |10 |3 |2 |4 |6 |1 |1 |1 |4 |3 |2 |1 |- |1 |3 Theft by opening |7 |2 |- |1 |1 |1 |2 |2 |- |- |- |- |1 |- |- |- |- |1 |- |- lockfast places Theft of motor |9 |7 |3 |- |1 |- |- |- |1 |2 |2 |4 |3 |- |- |- |- |1 |- |1 vehicle Theft by shoplifting |4 |7 |2 |1 |1 |3 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- Other theft |19 |29 |17 |5 |3 |1 |1 |6 |3 |4 |14 |3 |4 |1 |- |- |1 |1 |1 |- Fraud |5 |4 |6 |1 |1 |2 |1 |- |- |1 |3 |- |2 |2 |- |- |- |- |- |- Other |8 |13 |10 |2 |- |1 |- |2 |- |- |1 |- |1 |- |- |- |- |1 |- |- Fire-raising, vandalism, |11 |7 |16 |1 |- |- |1 |1 |1 |1 |5 |5 |3 |- |- |- |1 |- |- |- etc. Fire-raising |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |1 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- Vandalism etc. |11 |7 |16 |1 |- |- |1 |1 |1 |1 |3 |5 |2 |- |- |- |1 |- |- |- Other crimes |13 |8 |7 |4 |4 |- |- |2 |1 |- |8 |6 |3 |- |- |- |- |1 |- |- Crimes against public |8 |4 |6 |4 |3 |- |- |- |- |- |3 |3 |2 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- justice Drugs offences |5 |4 |1 |- |1 |- |- |2 |1 |- |5 |3 |1 |- |- |- |- |1 |- |- Other |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- Total Offences |387 |322 |353 |6 |7 |7 |2 |4 |13 |6 |171 |159 |143 |1 |- |- |- |2 |- |4 Miscellaneous offences |118 |101 |105 |5 |6 |6 |2 |2 |12 |6 |29 |33 |32 |1 |- |- |- |1 |- |2 Simple assault |32 |28 |25 |2 |4 |2 |1 |- |5 |1 |4 |9 |1 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- Breach of the peace |56 |44 |45 |3 |2 |2 |1 |2 |6 |5 |15 |4 |3 |1 |- |- |- |1 |- |- Drunkenness |2 |- |5 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- Other |28 |29 |30 |- |- |2 |- |- |1 |- |10 |20 |28 |- |- |- |- |- |- |2 Motor vehicle offences |269 |221 |248 |1 |1 |1 |- |2 |1 |- |142 |126 |111 |- |- |- |- |1 |- |2 Reckless and careless |56 |58 |96 |- |- |- |- |1 |- |- |43 |32 |53 |- |- |- |- |- |- |2 driving Drunk driving |67 |46 |53 |- |- |- |- |1 |1 |- |52 |49 |32 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- Speeding |60 |42 |22 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |1 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- Unlawful use of |61 |48 |45 |1 |1 |1 |- |- |- |- |34 |38 |20 |- |- |- |- |1 |- |- vehicle Vehicle defect offences |14 |9 |22 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |4 |1 |1 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- Other |11 |18 |10 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |9 |5 |5 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- <1> Provisional <2> Including any orders made as a condition of probation
Mr. Maclennan : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report the numbers, by sex, of those received into prison in default of fine payments in the most recent year for which figures are available, and for each of the five preceding years.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : The information is set out in the table.
Number of males and females received into penal establishments in Scotland and default of fine payments Year |Males |Females -------------------------------- 1983 |8,772 |557 1984 |8,431 |452 1985 |10,829 |735 1986 |9,969 |657 1987 |10,365 |618 <1>1988 |9,170 |544 <1>Provisional.
Mr. Maclennan : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what consideration he has given to the introduction of day or unit fines.
Column 72
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : We have given thorough consideration to the responses which we received earlier this year to our consultation document on fines and fine enforcement which discussed, among other aspects, the day or unit fine and we hope to be in a position to announce our proposals shortly.
Mr. Maclennan : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is allocating any additional funds to the city of Glasgow to use during its year as European city of culture.
Mr. Lang : The Government are contributing £0.5 million directly to the European City of Culture 1990. In addition, Government- funded bodies are committing significant resources in support of particular events taking place in 1990.
Column 73
Mr. Foulkes : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to publish his conclusions on the responses to the consultative memorandum on the supervision of charities in Scotland ; and if he will make a statement.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : Later this month copies will be made available in the Library in the normal manner.
Mr. Sillars : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many applications by Scottish Homes of persons approved by them have been served on public sector landlords with a view to acquiring housing ;
(2) how many groups to date have been approved by Scottish Homes as suitable landlords for the purchase of public sector houses under secure tenancies ;
(3) if it is the intention of Scottish Homes to set out a model lease to which persons seeking its approval as a landlord would be expected to adhere.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : To date no application has been served on any public sector landlord, in terms of section 58 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1988, either by Scottish Homes or by persons approved by them. As yet, no formal applications have been submitted to Scottish Homes by persons seeking to acquire approved landlord status under section 57 of that Act.
In considering an applicant's suitability to be registered as an approved landlord, Scottish Homes does not intend to impose as a condition of approval that landlords implement a model lease. However, it will be a requirement of approval that a clear written tenancy agreement is made available to all tenants. Scottish Homes will provide advice to applicant landlords on a number of conditions which they would expect to be covered in the tenancy agreement. Approval of a landlord will be dependent on the landlord's agreement to meeting these conditions.
Mr. Sillars : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many public relations officers are now employed by Greater Glasgow health board ; and what was the comparable figure two years ago.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : Greater Glasgow health board employs three public relations officers ; the board employed one two years ago.
Mr. Sillars : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the capital and revenue costs of providing nursery school places for all children in the three to five year age group.
Mr. Lang : On the assumption that the present proportion of part- time to full-time nursery places is maintained and on the basis of current unit costs, it is estimated that the total annual revenue cost of providing nursery education for all three and four-year-olds would be £113 million. It is not possible realistically to estimate what the associated capital cost might be.
Column 74
Mr. Sillars : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will introduce legislation to extend judicial review capacity to sheriff courts.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : My noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate regards it as entirely appropriate that, as part of the supervisory jurisdiction of the Court of Session, judicial review is carried out only by certain nominated judges of that court. He has no proposals to introduce legislation to provide for judicial review by sheriffs.
Mr. Sillars : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list by health board the fees paid to consultants at the nearest available date for work undertaken in connection with competitive tendering.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : This information is not held centrally.
Mr. Onslow : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what advice he has received from the advisory committee on salmon stocks about the genetic danger to wild salmon stocks that is likely to result from the release or escape of farmed salmon into the wild environment ; and what was the first date of any such advice.
Mr. Ian Lang : Fisheries Ministers have not asked the Salmon Advisory Committee to provide advice or recommendations on the subject of possible genetic interaction between farmed salmon and wild salmon stocks. Informally the chairman of the Salmon Advisory Committee has drawn attention to the possible relevance of work of the Nature Conservancy Council in this field to codes of practice on restocking salmon rivers. This subject is not, however, one which we have specifically asked the Salmon Advisory Council to include in its already extensive programme of work.
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on his review of his Department's research on aphids and aphid-borne diseases.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : Our aim is to take decisions on the future of aphid trapping and monitoring work in Scotland later this year after the Scottish aphid-borne virus working party has reported. I shall write to the hon. Member to inform him of these decisions in due course. Meanwhile the current level of aphid monitoring in Scotland will be maintained.
Mr. Bill Walker : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland by what date the Scottish electricity boards are required to submit their annual reports and accounts.
Mr. Lang : The report and accounts direction issued on 29 September 1989, copies of which have been deposited in the Library of the House, requires the South of Scotland
Next Section
| Home Page |