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Column 399
Written Answers to Questions
Monday 6 November 1989
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Bostik
Mr. Vaz : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has received representations concerning the proposed sale by Black and Decker of Bostik of Leicester to Orkem.
Mr. Redwood : I am not aware of having received any such representations.
Computer Codes
Mr. Nigel Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps the Government are taking to construct satisfactory criteria to be met by all computer codes which may be used as part of the decision-making processes involving public safety.
Mr. Forth : The Government are particularly concerned to ensure that safety-related systems are constructed to satisfactory standards ; the identification and apportionment of risk attributable to software within systems is part of this process. They are actively taking steps to encourage the development of suitable standards and guidelines, at both national and international levels, to be met by all systems incorporating software on which public safety may in some way depend. The work is motivated not by a recognition of particular present dangers ; rather by a desire to anticipate and forestall hazards which may arise with the very rapid pace of technical change.
Activity is being co-ordinated by a working group of the Interdepartmental Committee on Software Engineering (ICSE) on which all interested Government Departments are represented.
The working group, drawing on expertise from outside Government, is currently devising a strategy which includes the development of a requirement for harmonised standards applicable to the civil and defence sectors. The strategy will also embrace research and development, education and training, and the encouragement of technology transfer to equip software producers for the high quality of work to be demanded. The ICSE work on safety-related software is a particular aspect of the efforts of the Department of Trade and Industry to encourage
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higher quality software in general through the promotion of best practice, support for standards-making, and the establishment of certification schemes where appropriate.A number of studies have recently been carried out, for example, by the Health and Safety Executive, and jointly by the Institution of Electrical Engineers and the British Computer Society (with financial support from the Department of Trade and Industry). The recommendations resulting from this work are being considered by ICSE in the development of its strategy. In particular, ICSE is working on a standards framework proposed by the Health and Safety Executive, which will take into account interim defence standards 00-55 (requirements for the procurement of safety critical software in defence equipment) and 00-56 (requirements for the analysis of safety critical hazards) as well as international standards currently being produced. The framework which eventually emerges from the ICSE work will, after normal consultation with United Kingdom industry, be presented to the International Electro Technical Commission, a body with a wide membership, whose responsibilities include the production of international standards for computer-based systems and the software used therein.
Single Market News"
Mr. Tom Clarke : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what guidelines are followed when allowing firms to advertise within his departmental publication "Single Market News".
Mr. Forth [holding answer 3 November 1989] : Advertising is accepted on normal commercial terms and in accordance with the British code of advertising practice.
Inward Investment
Mr. McLeish : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give a breakdown of inward investment in the United Kingdom, by standard English regions and for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, for each of the years 1979-80 to 1988-89 inclusive showing (a) the total number of investments, (b) the number received as a percentage of the total in each year, (c) the total number of associated jobs both new and safeguarded, (d) the number of jobs as a percentage of the total in each year and (e) the total amount of Government financial assistance provided.
Mr. Douglas Hogg [holding answer 30 October 1989] : The table sets out the number of inward investment decisions known to the invest in Britain bureau for the calendar years 1979-88, together with the value of regional selective assistance offers to foreign-owned companies in England, Scotland and Wales and the financial assistance offered in Northern Ireland to such companies. It is currently not possible to provide all the information requested on a financial year basis.
Column 399
Number of inward investment decisions
Regional breakdown
Scotland
Number of projNew jobs Safeguarded joTotal jobs (NeGovernment as
Safeguarded jobs) million)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1979 28 (15.3) 2,757 (19.3) n/a 2,757 (19.3) 15.8
1980 31 (20.0) 4,474 (24.0) n/a 4,474 (24.0) 18.8
1981 28 (21.0) 5,756 (35.1) n/a 5,756 (35.1) 22.1
1982 28 (21.0) 2,258 (21.4) n/a 2,258 (21.4) 13.6
1983 |49 |(20.8)|5,135 |(33.0)|3,432 |(22.5)|8,567 |(27.8)|25.9
1984 |74 |(22.6)|8,761 |(32.3)|1,463 |(7.6) |10,224|(22.0)|45.8
1985 |57 |(15.2)|4,971 |(19.4)|2,922 |(15.6)|7,893 |(17.8)|36.8
1986 |36 |(10.6)|1,881 |(11.6)|607 |(5.6) |2,488 |(9.2) |12.7
1987 |31 |(10.2)|3,704 |(18.6)|2,061 |(12.1)|5,765 |(15.6)|22.1
1988 |58 |(17.6)|5,392 |(20.3)|1,978 |(10.9)|7,370 |(16.5)|24.8
n/a=Not available.
Notes:
Figures in brackets apply to percentage of total for each region. These
figures refer to decisions known to the IBB, and are provided by the
companies themselves. The jobs are those associated with the projects over
the long term.
Figures for Government assistance in England, Scotland and Wales are for
offers of Regional Selective Assistance accepted by foreign-owned companies
in the years shown. (NB: by no means all inward investment projects receive
RSA.) Comparable information on other forms of financial assistance is not
available.
Northern Ireland
Number oNew jobsts Safeguarded joTotal jobs (NeGovernment assistance<1>
Safeguarded jobs) (£ million)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1979 18 (9.8) 2,794 (19.5) n/a 2,794 (19.5) -
1980 20 (12.9) 2,760 (14.8) n/a 2,760 (14.8) -
1981 15 (11.3) 2,429 (14.8) n/a 2,429 (14.8) -
1982 6 (4.5) 1,893 (18.0) n/a 1,893 (18.0) -
1983 |11 |(4.7) |548 |(3.5) |1,192 |(7.8) |1,740 |(5.6) |20.4
1984 |27 |(8.2) |2,256 |(8.3) |2,876 |(14.9)|5,132 |(11.1)|42.1
1985 |22 |(5.9) |771 |(3.0) |1,424 |(7.6) |2,195 |(5.0) |31.0
1986 |18 |(5.3) |693 |(4.3) |1,722 |(16.0)|2,415 |(8.9) |27.1
1987 |17 |(5.6) |946 |(4.8) |1,341 |(7.9) |2,287 |(6.2) |25.6
1988 |22 |(6.7) |2,610 |(9.8) |916 |(5.1) |3,526 |(7.9) |57.5
<1> Figures for financial assistance in Northern Ireland are only available
since the Industrial Development Board was established and are only
available on a financial year basis.
n/a=Not available.
Notes :
Figures in brackets apply to percentage of total for each region. These
figures refer to decisions known to the IBB, and are provided by the
companies themselves. The jobs are those associated with the projects over
the long term.
Figures for Government assistance in England, Scotland and Wales are for
offers of Regional Selective Assistance accepted by foreign-owned companies
in the years shown. (NB : by no means all inward investment projects receive
RSA.) Comparable information on other forms of financial assistance is not
available.
Northern Ireland
Number oNew jobsts Safeguarded joTotal jobs (NeGovernment assistance<1>
Safeguarded jobs) (£ million)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1979 18 (9.8) 2,794 (19.5) n/a 2,794 (19.5) -
1980 20 (12.9) 2,760 (14.8) n/a 2,760 (14.8) -
1981 15 (11.3) 2,429 (14.8) n/a 2,429 (14.8) -
1982 6 (4.5) 1,893 (18.0) n/a 1,893 (18.0) -
1983 |11 |(4.7) |548 |(3.5) |1,192 |(7.8) |1,740 |(5.6) |20.4
1984 |27 |(8.2) |2,256 |(8.3) |2,876 |(14.9)|5,132 |(11.1)|42.1
1985 |22 |(5.9) |771 |(3.0) |1,424 |(7.6) |2,195 |(5.0) |31.0
1986 |18 |(5.3) |693 |(4.3) |1,722 |(16.0)|2,415 |(8.9) |27.1
1987 |17 |(5.6) |946 |(4.8) |1,341 |(7.9) |2,287 |(6.2) |25.6
1988 |22 |(6.7) |2,610 |(9.8) |916 |(5.1) |3,526 |(7.9) |57.5
<1> Figures for financial assistance in Northern Ireland are only available
since the Industrial Development Board was established and are only
available on a financial year basis.
n/a=Not available.
Notes :
Figures in brackets apply to percentage of total for each region. These
figures refer to decisions known to the IBB, and are provided by the
companies themselves. The jobs are those associated with the projects over
the long term.
Figures for Government assistance in England, Scotland and Wales are for
offers of Regional Selective Assistance accepted by foreign-owned companies
in the years shown. (NB : by no means all inward investment projects receive
RSA.) Comparable information on other forms of financial assistance is not
available.
Column 403
----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1979 21 (11.5) 1,466 (10.2) n/a 1,466 (10.2) 7.1 1980 19 (12.3) 2,923 (15.7) n/a 2,923 (15.7) 5.6 1981 14 (10.5) 1,021 (6.2) n/a 1,021 (6.2) 8.5 1982 15 (11.3) 539 (5.1) n/a 539 (5.1) 1983 |20 |(8.5) |1,066 |(6.9) |720 |(4.7) |1,786 |(5.8) |1.9 1984 |29 |(8.8) |4,589 |(16.9)|230 |(1.2) |4,819 |(10.4)|42.8 1985 |26 |(6.9) |1,987 |(7.8) |1,572 |(8.4) |3,559 |(8.0) |10.2 1986 |30 |(8.8) |1,581 |(9.7) |1,158 |(10.8)|2,739 |(10.1)|6.9 1987 |31 |(10.2)|3,491 |(17.5)|852 |(5.0) |4,343 |(11.8)|15.6 1988 |22 |(6.7) |2,041 |(7.7) |31 |(0.2) |2,072 |(4.6) |17.1 n/a=Not available. Notes: Figures in brackets apply to percentage of total for each region. These figures refer to decisions known to the IBB, and are provided by the companies themselves. The jobs are those associated with the projects over the long term. Figures for Government assistance in England, Scotland and Wales are for offers of Regional Selective Assistance accepted by foreign-owned companies in the years shown. (NB: by no means all inward investment projects receive RSA.) Comparable information on other forms of financial assistance is not available.
Yorkshire and Humberside
Number oNew jobsts Safeguarded joTotal jobs (NeGovernment assistance (£
Safeguarded jobs) million)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1979 27 (14.8) 1,176 (8.2) n/a 1,176 (8.2) 5.4
1980 17 (11.0) 890 (4.8) n/a 890 (4.8) 1.6
1981 6 (4.5) 167 (1.0) n/a 167 (1.0) 0.3
1982 7 (5.3) 104 (0.9) n/a 104 (1.0) 1.9
1983 |10 |(4.2) |345 |(2.2) |502 |(3.3) |847 |(2.7) |0.4
1984 |7 |(2.1) |119 |(0.4) |860 |(4.5) |979 |(2.1) |1.1
1985 |16 |(4.3) |2,263 |(8.8) |2,969 |(15.9)|5,232 |(11.8)|6.7
1986 |11 |(3.2) |158 |(0.9) |57 |(0.5) |215 |(0.7) |7.9
1987 |22 |(7.3) |938 |(4.7) |961 |(5.7) |1,899 |(5.1) |4.3
1988 |14 |(4.2) |1,507 |(5.7) |250 |(1.4) |1,757 |(3.9) |2.4
n/a=Not available.
Notes :
Figures in brackets apply to percentage of total for each region. These
figures refer to decisions known to the IBB, and are provided by the
companies themselves. The jobs are those associated with the projects over
the long term.
Figures for Government assistance in England, Scotland and Wales are for
offers of Regional Selective Assistance accepted by foreign-owned companies
in the years shown. (NB : by no means all inward investment projects receive
RSA.) Comparable information on other forms of financial assistance is not
available.
Yorkshire and Humberside
Number oNew jobsts Safeguarded joTotal jobs (NeGovernment assistance (£
Safeguarded jobs) million)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1979 27 (14.8) 1,176 (8.2) n/a 1,176 (8.2) 5.4
1980 17 (11.0) 890 (4.8) n/a 890 (4.8) 1.6
1981 6 (4.5) 167 (1.0) n/a 167 (1.0) 0.3
1982 7 (5.3) 104 (0.9) n/a 104 (1.0) 1.9
1983 |10 |(4.2) |345 |(2.2) |502 |(3.3) |847 |(2.7) |0.4
1984 |7 |(2.1) |119 |(0.4) |860 |(4.5) |979 |(2.1) |1.1
1985 |16 |(4.3) |2,263 |(8.8) |2,969 |(15.9)|5,232 |(11.8)|6.7
1986 |11 |(3.2) |158 |(0.9) |57 |(0.5) |215 |(0.7) |7.9
1987 |22 |(7.3) |938 |(4.7) |961 |(5.7) |1,899 |(5.1) |4.3
1988 |14 |(4.2) |1,507 |(5.7) |250 |(1.4) |1,757 |(3.9) |2.4
n/a=Not available.
Notes :
Figures in brackets apply to percentage of total for each region. These
figures refer to decisions known to the IBB, and are provided by the
companies themselves. The jobs are those associated with the projects over
the long term.
Figures for Government assistance in England, Scotland and Wales are for
offers of Regional Selective Assistance accepted by foreign-owned companies
in the years shown. (NB : by no means all inward investment projects receive
RSA.) Comparable information on other forms of financial assistance is not
available.
Column 405
East Midlands
Number New jobscts Safeguarded Total jobs (Government assistance (
Safeguarded jobs) million)
------------------------------------------------------------------
1979 15 (8.2) 1,174 (8.2) n/a 1,174 (8.2) 0.2
1980 5 (3.2) 276 (1.5) n/a 276 (1.5) 0.8
1981 8 (6.0) 290 (1.8) n/a 290 (1.8) 0.5
1982 13 (9.8) 848 (8.1) n/a 848 (8.1) 0.7
1983 |12 |(5.1)|939 |(6.0)|80 |(0.5)|1,019|(3.3)|3.6
1984 |11 |(3.4)|658 |(2.4)|303 |(1.6)|961 |(2.1)|2.5
1985 |19 |(5.1)|778 |(3.0)|0 |0 |778 |(1.8)|1.9
1986 |15 |(4.4)|557 |(3.4)|20 |(0.1)|577 |(2.1)|0.4
1987 |11 |(3.6)|456 |(2.3)|398 |(2.3)|854 |(2.3)|0.2
1988 |16 |(4.8)|836 |(3.1)|880 |(4.9)|1,716|(3.8)|0.7
n/a=Not available.
Notes :
Figures in brackets apply to percentage of total for each region.
These figures refer to decisions known to the IBB, and are
provided by the companies themselves. The jobs are those
associated with the projects over the long term.
Figures for Government assistance in England, Scotland and Wales
are for offers of Regional Selective Assistance accepted by
foreign-owned companies in the years shown. (NB : by no means all
inward investment projects receive RSA.) Comparable information
on other forms of financial assistance is not available.
East Midlands
Number New jobscts Safeguarded Total jobs (Government assistance (
Safeguarded jobs) million)
------------------------------------------------------------------
1979 15 (8.2) 1,174 (8.2) n/a 1,174 (8.2) 0.2
1980 5 (3.2) 276 (1.5) n/a 276 (1.5) 0.8
1981 8 (6.0) 290 (1.8) n/a 290 (1.8) 0.5
1982 13 (9.8) 848 (8.1) n/a 848 (8.1) 0.7
1983 |12 |(5.1)|939 |(6.0)|80 |(0.5)|1,019|(3.3)|3.6
1984 |11 |(3.4)|658 |(2.4)|303 |(1.6)|961 |(2.1)|2.5
1985 |19 |(5.1)|778 |(3.0)|0 |0 |778 |(1.8)|1.9
1986 |15 |(4.4)|557 |(3.4)|20 |(0.1)|577 |(2.1)|0.4
1987 |11 |(3.6)|456 |(2.3)|398 |(2.3)|854 |(2.3)|0.2
1988 |16 |(4.8)|836 |(3.1)|880 |(4.9)|1,716|(3.8)|0.7
n/a=Not available.
Notes :
Figures in brackets apply to percentage of total for each region.
These figures refer to decisions known to the IBB, and are
provided by the companies themselves. The jobs are those
associated with the projects over the long term.
Figures for Government assistance in England, Scotland and Wales
are for offers of Regional Selective Assistance accepted by
foreign-owned companies in the years shown. (NB : by no means all
inward investment projects receive RSA.) Comparable information
on other forms of financial assistance is not available.
South East
Number of projNew jobs Safeguarded joTotal jobs (NeGovernment as
Safeguarded jobs) million)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1979 23 (12.6) 908 (6.3) n/a 908 (6.3) 0.0
1980 23 (14.6) 1,046 (5.6) n/a 1,046 (5.6) 0.0
1981 15 (11.3) 967 (5.9) n/a 967 (5.9) 0.0
1982 25 (18.8) 1,300 (12.4) n/a 1,300 (12.4) 0.0
1983 |59 |(25.0)|3,036 |(19.5)|2,667 |(17.5)|5,703 |(18.5)|0.0
1984 |70 |(21.3)|2,731 |(10.1)|810 |(4.2) |3,541 |(7.6) |0.0
1985 |84 |(22.4)|3,649 |(14.3)|5,712 |(30.5)|9,361 |(21.1)|0.0
1986 |60 |(17.7)|2,118 |(13.0)|1,148 |(10.7)|3,266 |(12.1)|0.0
1987 |50 |(16.5)|2,503 |(12.6)|599 |(3.5) |3,102 |(8.4) |0.0
1988 |45 |(13.6)|2,240 |(8.4) |983 |(5.4) |3,223 |(7.2) |0.0
n/a=Not available.
Notes:
Figures in brackets apply to percentage of total for each region. These
figures refer to decisions known to the IBB, and are provided by the
companies themselves. The jobs are those associated with the projects over
the long term.
Figures for Government assistance in England, Scotland and Wales are for
offers of Regional Selective Assistance accepted by foreign-owned companies
in the years shown. (NB: by no means all inward investment projects receive
RSA.) Comparable information on other forms of financial assistance is not
available.
Total United Kingdom
Number oNew jobsts Safeguarded joTotal jobs (N
Safeguarded jobs)
-------------------------------------------------
1979 183 14,310 n/a 14,310
1980 155 18,662 n/a 18,662
1981 133 16,417 n/a 16,417
1982 133 10,529 n/a 10,529
1983 |236 |15,546|15,257|30,803|45.9
1984 |328 |27,102|19,294|46,396|126.3
1985 |375 |25,584|18,721|44,305|91.2
1986 |339 |16,274|10,760|27,034|66.6
1987 |303 |19,914|17,015|36,929|96.0
1988 |330 |26,546|18,116|44,662|90.2
<1> Excludes Northern Ireland.
n/a=Not available.
Notes :
Figures for Government assistance in England,
Scotland and Wales are for offers of Regional
Selective Assistance accepted by foreign-owned
companies in the years shown. (NB : by no means
all inward investment projects receive RSA.)
Comparable information on other forms of
financial assistance is not available.
Column 407
Total United Kingdom
Number oNew jobsts Safeguarded joTotal jobs (N
Safeguarded jobs)
-------------------------------------------------
1979 183 14,310 n/a 14,310
1980 155 18,662 n/a 18,662
1981 133 16,417 n/a 16,417
1982 133 10,529 n/a 10,529
1983 |236 |15,546|15,257|30,803|45.9
1984 |328 |27,102|19,294|46,396|126.3
1985 |375 |25,584|18,721|44,305|91.2
1986 |339 |16,274|10,760|27,034|66.6
1987 |303 |19,914|17,015|36,929|96.0
1988 |330 |26,546|18,116|44,662|90.2
<1> Excludes Northern Ireland.
n/a=Not available.
Notes :
Figures for Government assistance in England,
Scotland and Wales are for offers of Regional
Selective Assistance accepted by foreign-owned
companies in the years shown. (NB : by no means
all inward investment projects receive RSA.)
Comparable information on other forms of
financial assistance is not available.
Total United Kingdom
Number oNew jobsts Safeguarded joTotal jobs (N
Safeguarded jobs)
-------------------------------------------------
1979 183 14,310 n/a 14,310
1980 155 18,662 n/a 18,662
1981 133 16,417 n/a 16,417
1982 133 10,529 n/a 10,529
1983 |236 |15,546|15,257|30,803|45.9
1984 |328 |27,102|19,294|46,396|126.3
1985 |375 |25,584|18,721|44,305|91.2
1986 |339 |16,274|10,760|27,034|66.6
1987 |303 |19,914|17,015|36,929|96.0
1988 |330 |26,546|18,116|44,662|90.2
<1> Excludes Northern Ireland.
n/a=Not available.
Notes :
Figures for Government assistance in England,
Scotland and Wales are for offers of Regional
Selective Assistance accepted by foreign-owned
companies in the years shown. (NB : by no means
all inward investment projects receive RSA.)
Comparable information on other forms of
financial assistance is not available.
ENVIRONMENT
Homelessness
Mr. Matthew Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what are (a) the most recent figures for homelessness by county and metropolitan district in England and (b) as a percentage of the population in county and metropolitan districts in England ;
(2) what are the most recent figures for homelessness for England and by English regions as a percentage of the population ; (3) what are the most recent figures for homelessness for England, with regional breakdowns.
Mr. Chope : Figures for homelessness for non-metropolitan and metropolitan districts appear in table 7 of "Local authorities' action under the homelessness
Column 408
provisions of the 1985 Housing Act : England. Results for the second quarter 1989. Supplementary Tables". This table gives the numbers of homeless acceptances and acceptances per 1,000 households for those districts which reported.The latest estimates of households accepted as homeless expressed as numbers and per 1,000 households for England and by regions appear respectively in tables 1(a) and 1(b) of the same publication. Tables 1(a) and 1(b) include estimates for non-responders.
A copy of the supplementary tables is available in the Library.
Mr. Kirkwood : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the number of young people under 18 years of age who are currently homeless ; and how these estimates have changed over the last three years.
Column 409
Mr. Chope [holding answer 2 November 1989] : The numbers of young people among the households accepted as homeless are not reported by local authorities and my Department has no estimates.
Correspondence
Mr. Pawsey : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information his Department has on the length of time taken to respond to letters from hon. Members.
Mr. Chris Patten : My Department's records of correspondence from hon. Members are stored on a computer system. The system incorporates certain basic data for each case, including the length of time taken to send a reply to each letter.
Council House Sales
Mr. French : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is considering introducing any new schemes to promote the sale of council homes in England.
Mr. Chope : I shall be considering the experimental schemes recently announced in Scotland and Wales to enable tenants to buy their homes while deferring payment of part of the purchase price.
Mr. Harry Greenway : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many council homes were sold in 1988 ; what were the figures for five, 10 and 15 years ago ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Chope : The information requested is as follows :
Local authority and new town sales,
England
(Thousands)
|1973|1978|1983|1988
-----------------------------------------
Number of sales |39 |30 |137 |142
It is clear that the right to buy, introduced in 1980, continues to meet the desire of very many tenants to take on the
responsibilities of home ownership.
Mr. Devlin : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many council houses have been sold in the northern region since 1980.
Mr. Chope : From April 1980 to June 1989 an estimated 74,000 dwellings were sold by local authorities and new towns in the northern region.
Housing (Rents)
Mr. French : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate the average (a) council home rent, (b) new town development corporation home rent, and (c) housing association rent in England.
Mr. Chope : The estimated average weekly unrebated rent for local authority dwellings in England in April 1989 was £20.62 ; for new town dwellings it was £21.20.
For housing associations the average rent for fair rent lettings in the first half of 1989 was £26.47. Since January this year most new lettings by housing associations have been on assured tenancies but information about the rents charged under such tenancies is not yet available.
Column 410
Housing Corporation
Mr. Butler : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the Housing Corporation has been given permission to issue index- linked housing loan stock to participants in self-build schemes for rent.
Mr. Chope : The Housing Corporation and the Department are currently examining a proposition of this kind.
European Environment Agency
Mr. Sillars : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which body will make the final decision about the location of the European Environment Agency.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : It will be for the Council of Ministers to make the final decision about the location of the European Environment Agency.
Land Sales
Mr. Devlin : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many acres of publicly-owned land in the northern region have been sold since 1980 ; and how many are still held.
Mr. Chope : The information requested is not held centrally. The Department's land register for public bodies covered by part X of the Local Government Planning and Land Act 1980 records unused and underused land. At 30 September the register shows that in the northern region pubic bodies had disposed of 4,700 acres of such land since 1980 ; 10,100 acres remained on the register.
Hazardous Waste Cargoes
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration he has given to the requirements for cargo checks and physical assay of hazardous and toxic waste cargoes imported into the United Kingdom when border deregulation is implemented with the single European Market on 1 January 1993.
Mr. Trippier : Controls over tranfrontier movement of hazardous wastes are based on prior notifications to the waste disposal authority responsible for the intended disposal facility and do not depend on cargo checks or assay at borders. Waste disposal authorities already have wide powers to inspect and take samples, wherever necessary, in the performance of their functions. The European Commission has accepted that after the creation of the single market controls on movements of hazardous waste between member states will still be necessary.
Industrial Pollution
Mr. Andrew Welsh : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much public money was spent on clearing up pollution and environmental damage resulting from the release of pollutants into the environment by industry, in each of the last 10 years for the United Kingdom as a whole ; and how much of this sum was spent in Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : This information is not collected in the form requested. Some expenditures incurred by public undertakings in dealing with
Column 411
environmental pollution are published for England and Wales in my Department's digest of environmental protection and water statistics but these cover much more than clearing up.Community Charge
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek to amend the community charge legislation in order to exempt from liability to pay the charge all persons who are in receipt of attendance allowance.
Mr. Chope : No, but my right hon. Friend intends to amend the legislation by order to enable anyone who is in receipt of attendance allowance, or constant attendance allowance, and who is severely mentally impaired to be exempt from the community charge. This will enable people suffering from degenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease to qualify for exemption.
Radioactive Waste, Drigg
Sir Hugh Rossi : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the Official Report the letter dated 6 October from the hon. Member for Surrey, South-West (Mrs. Bottomley) to the hon. Member for Hornsey and Woodgreen relating to the Sixth Report of the Environment Committee, session 1988-89 "Disposal of Low-level Radioactive Waste at Drigg."
Mr. Trippier : Yes. The text of my hon. Friend's letter is as follows :
"I was interested to see your Committee's report on the "Disposal of Low- Level Radioactive Waste at Drigg" which was published in August. I am pleased that the Committee welcomed the progress that has been made by British Nuclear Fuels plc to respond to the Committee's earlier criticisms of the Drigg operation and to implement the Committee's recommendations.
BNFL has made substantial efforts to improve the Drigg site and to reduce any environmental impact. This, and the company's commitment to further improvements, is encouraging news.
I note, however, that the Committee considers there is still some work to be done in reducing the volume of waste being sent to the site. The Department agrees and will continue to press the waste producers to reduce the volume of the waste prior to disposal".
Pollution
Mr. Andrew Welsh : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what safeguards there are to ensure that public funds do not go to businesses or activities which cause pollution and environmental damage.
Mr. Trippier : We have a legislative framework which provides systems for controlling pollution across all environmental media. We have strengthened the control of water pollution with the passage of the Water Act 1989. We propose to improve the effectiveness of other control systems with further environmental protection legislation. This framework provides the safeguard, and industrial and other activities, whether supported by public funds or not, must be regulated by these controls.
Public Standpipes
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how payment is to be made to water undertakers for water taken from a public standpipe for domestic use when drought conditions exist.
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Mr. Howard : There is no separate charge to domestic consumers for water taken from public standpipes erected during a period of water shortage.
Civil Service Dispersal
Mr. Kirkwood : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the Official Report details of those sections of his Department which have been relocated in the last five years, indicating the sites to which they have been moved ; whether consideration is being given to future relocation of London-based sections of his Department to sites outside London ; and whether the central Borders of Scotland has been identified as a suitable area for any future moves.
Mr. Chris Patten : Around 38 per cent. of the Department of the Environment's staff of approximately 6,000 (excluding the Property Services Agency) are already located outside London, 24 per cent. outside the south- east. The Department's eastern regional office moved from London to Bedford last year. Staff working for the newly-established Historic Royal Palaces Agency have recently moved from central London to Hampton Court palace.
Information about the Department's review currently being carried out of the scope for further relocation was given in reply to my hon. Friend, the Member for Beverley (Mr. Cran) on 21 July ( Official Report, Vol. 157, col. 785 .)
Apart from the Property Services Agency, the Department's work is principally concerned with policies affecting England. We have not, therefore, considered locating posts in Scotland.
Seventy per cent. of the PSA's staff of 22,800 are already located outside London, 45 per cent. outside the south-east. The PSA is being restructured in preparation for privatisation, and the scope for further relocation is being examined through the business planning process.
Council House Building
Mr. Winnick : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many council dwellings were started in England and Wales for 1988 ; and how many starts have occurred in 1989.
Mr. Chope : Figures of local authority and new town housebuilding starts in England appear in table 2 of my Department's press release number 577 issued on 2 November 1989, a copy of which is available in the Library.
For information on Wales I refer to the hon. Member to the Secretary of State for Wales.
Sites of Special Scientific Interest
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement in respect of damage in Yorkshire and Humberside to sites of special scientific interest (a) at Thorne, Crowle and Goole Moors (b) Sandall Beat wood and (c) Shirley Pool.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : The latest information on these sites is being assembled by the Nature Conservancy Council. I will write to the hon. Member as soon as it is available.
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Local Government Finance
Mr. David Martin : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will update the table placed in the Library on 19 July illustrating the impact, in each local authority area, of a system of local government finance based on a local income tax and on a system which combines local income tax with capital value based domestic rates, making the same assumptions but reflecting his estimates of 1990-91 expenditure, standard spending assessments and aggregate external finance.
Mr. David Hunt : I have today placed a table in the Library showing the figures requested, consistent with the announcements my right hon. Friend made in his statement today and with the exemplications of his proposals which he has sent to local authorities.
Mr. Brandon-Bravo : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the terms for the payment of community charge transitional relief in 1991-92 and 1992-93 ; and what will be the amount of relief granted.
Mr. Chris Patten : On 11 October my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State announced in the other place details of the community charge transitional relief scheme. In 1990-91 the estimated cost of relief is £300 million. Transitional relief will be phased out over a three year period. The arrangements for future years are that in 1991-92 the amount of relief granted to an individual in 1990-91 will be reduced by 25p a week and by a further 25p in 1992-93. The cost of relief in 1991-92 is estimated to be £230 million and in 1992-93 £180 million.
Travel Passes
Mr. Patchett : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to provide the money to local authorities to ensure that free bus travel passes are available for retired persons.
Mr. Chope [holding answer 3 November 1989] : The main avenue for Government support for local authority services will be revenue support grant, which is in aid of services generally. It is for local authorities to decide how much to spend on any particular activity, and in particular to decide the extent to which they support concessionary fare schemes.
Housing (Barnsley)
Mr. Patchett : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he last met Barnsley metropolitan borough council to discuss its housing needs ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Chope [holding answer 3 November 1989] : My officials met Barnsley metropolitan borough council on 3 October 1989 to discuss the district's housing needs and the council's proposed housing investment programme. The outcome of these discussions will be taken into account when the decisions are taken on the allocation of housing resources to Barnsley for the next financial year.
Right to Buy
Mr. Cartwright : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many right-to-buy applicants in each of the London boroughs were awaiting the determination of appeals to the district valuer at the most recent convenient date.
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Mr. Chope [holding answer 30 October 1989] : The following table gives the number of right to buy valuation appeals awaiting determination by district valuers at 19 October. It excludes appeals which have not yet passed to district valuers or which have recently been the subject of determination reports to the local authority and the applicant :
District |Number ----------------------------------------- Barking |20 Barnet |19 Bexley |4 Brent |24 Bromley |2 Camden |323 Croydon |44 Ealing |11 Enfield |8 Greenwich |384 Hackney |33 Hammersmith and Fulham |36 Haringey |18 Harrow |4 Havering |38 Hillingdon |4 Hounslow |21 Islington |51 Kensington and Chelsea |3 Kingston |3 Lambeth |34 Lewisham |81 Merton |9 Newham |68 Redbridge |18 Richmond |2 Southwark |59 Sutton |18 Tower Hamlets |93 Waltham Forest |11 Wandsworth |17 Westminster |29 City |0
These figures suggest that the boroughs with very high numbers of appeals to the district valuer should be reviewing their valuation policies.
PRIME MINISTER
Nuclear Accidents
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on the arrangements that have been made to assist overseas Governments, should they have a major nuclear accident.
The Prime Minister : The United Kingdom signed the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) convention on assistance in the case of a nuclear accident or radiological emergency as soon as it was opened for signature in September 1986. As at 28 September 1989 this convention had been signed by 70 states and ratified by 37 states. Copies of this convention are available in the Library (Cm. 566). We undertook, on signature, to act as if bound by the convention pending ratification which is expected to take place early next year.
Child Abuse
Mrs. Dunwoody : To ask the Prime Minister if she will set up a special unit in Downing street to deal with the problem of child abuse.
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The Prime Minister : I have at present no plans to do so.
United Nations Environment Programme
Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones : To ask the Prime Minister if she will make it her policy to announce an increase in the United Kingdom contribution to the United Nations environment programme when she addresses the United Nations General Assembly in New York on 8 November.
The Prime Minister : I announced in March this year that the United Kingdom will increase its contribution to the United Nations environment programme to £3 million.
Textile Industry
Mr. Madden : To ask the Prime Minister if she will appoint a Minister of the House responsible for policy relating to the textile industry ; and if she will make a statement.
The Prime Minister : I am satisfied with the present arrangements.
Immigration and Nationality Policy
Mr. Madden : To ask the Prime Minister why responsibility for immigration and nationality policy has been passed to a Parliamentary Under -Secretary of State at the Home Office ; and if she will make a statement.
The Prime Minister : Responsibility for immigration and nationality policy rests with the Secretary of State for the Home Department. He will be assisted in the discharge of this duty by the Parliamentary Under- Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Fareham (Mr. Lloyd). They will continue the firm and fair administration of our immigration laws.
ENERGY
Electricity Privatisation
Dr. Kim Howells : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the model transitional agreements which he has suggested as viable contractual agreements between British Coal and National Power and Power Gen to take effect after the privatisation of electricity.
Mr. Wakeham : Coal contracts are a matter for commercial negotiation between British Coal and the generators.
Dr. Kim Howells : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what date has now been fixed for the sale to the private sector of each component branch of the electricity supply industry ; and what level of certainty he attaches to the proposed date of each such sale.
Mr. Michael Spicer : The Government are firmly committed to completing the privatisation of the industry within this Parliament. The area boards will be offered for sale in autumn 1990. The two generating companies will be offered for sale in the first half of 1991. The precise timing for this has yet to be settled.
Dr. Kim Howells : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is his estimate of the likely effects of electricity privatisation on levels of employment in the British coal mining industry.
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