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flights at six United Kingdom airports, including scheduled services between Heathrow-Gatwick and Edinburgh- Glasgow.Mr. Vaz : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about future plans to increase scheduled passenger services from East Midlands international airport in the run-up to 1992.
Mr. McLoughlin : Many routes from East Midlands international airport to European Community destinations are already open under existing Community arrangements. I am urging my European Community colleagues to take further steps towards the Single Market by giving airlines yet greater freedom to exercise their commercial judgment in offering the range of scheduled services which customers want at the keenest prices.
At present five European Community destinations are served from east midlands though more routes are available for airlines to serve if they chose to do so.
Motorways
Mr. Gareth Wardell : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give the precise location where the M4 motorway crosses the geographical boundary between England and Wales.
Mr. Atkins : At the mid-point of the bridge over the River Wye.
Channel Tunnel
Mr. Janman : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his policy towards the Ove Arup and Talis Channel tunnel rail link alternatives ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Portillo : My right hon. Friend made a full statement on Friday 3 November. The Government have welcomed the joint venture established between British Rail, which has the contractual rights to operate through the Channel tunnel, and its chosen partner, Eurorail. The BR/Eurorail joint venture is pursuing the route through Kent and up to King's Cross. Others are, of course, free to formulate and promote alternatives.
Sir John Stanley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the joint venture agreement for Channel tunnel rail services between British Rail and Eurorail referred to in his answer to the hon. Member for Thanet, South (Mr. Aitken) of 3 November, Official Report, columns 346-67 is currently in the form of an exchange of letters, agreed heads of terms or an agreed joint venture agreement.
Mr. Portillo : BR and Eurorail have exchanged letters outlining the scope of a joint venture between them. They are now negotiating a detailed shareholders agreement for the joint venture which will require my approval.
Coastguard Service
Mr. Speller : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the emergency calls made to Her Majesty's coastguards relating to the North Devon coast, or coastal waters, during daylight hours on 16 August ; and what actions resulted in each case.
Mr. McLoughlin : Emergency calls, by radio or the 999 telephone system were received as follows : (Times shown are as logged at each individual station.)
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Swansea MRCC08.45 --999 call reporting a coaster dumping cargo in Lynmouth bay. Subsequently confirmed as a dredger working in the area dumping surplus water.
15.20 --999 call from Mr. Kift, reporting one person cut off at Rapparee cove.
15.22 --VHF radio call from Milford Haven, reporting the same incident, but identifying two persons involved. The Ilfracombe auxiliary coastguard in charge, advised and instructed to proceed. 15.35 --999 call from Mr. Richards, reporting one child recovered, one child still in the water. Rescue helicopter from RAF Chivenor scrambled, and Ilfracombe lifeboat launched.
15.51 --999 call reporting windsurfer in difficulties on Bideford Bar. Appledore lifeboat launched, auxiliary coastguard tasked to attend on scene. The windsurfer reached shore unaided.
16.51 --Police report of small cabin cruiser adrift in River Taw. Appledore lifeboat launched and towed boat, unmanned, to moorings. Milford Haven
15.25 --999 call (mis-routed) reporting two boys swept on to rocks at Rapparee cove. Information passed by VHF radio to Swansea coastguard for action, and subsequently confirmed by Telex message.
Noise Standards (Railways)
Sir John Stanley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will state the terms of reference of his Department's study of noise standards for new railways.
Mr. Portillo : The objective will be to establish the standard at a level which equitably relates to the standard set by regulation for new highways. I hope to make an announcement shortly about the establishment of a departmental committee to carry out this task.
Motorways
Mr. David Evans : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what studies have been undertaken by his Department as to the feasibility of converting Britain's motorways into toll roads.
ENVIRONMENT
Rose and Globe Theatres
130. Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a further statement on the future of the Rose and Globe theatre sites in Southwark.
Mr. Trippier : The remains of the Rose theatre are now fully protected to safeguard them while construction work takes place on the site. Discussions are taking place between various interested parties, including English Heritage, to determine the best methods for the future conservation and display of the remains.
English Heritage has submitted advice to the Department on the future of the Globe theatre remains. This is being considered.
Homelessness
Miss Hoey : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions have taken place between Government officials and the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux in respect of advice services dealing with housing and homelessness.
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Mr. Chope : Since our announcement on 15 November of the conclusions of the homelessness review, my officials have had one meeting with officers of the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux and my hon. and learned Friend the Minister for Housing and Planning has had one meeting with the association's council. The discussions have concerned our proposal to base a national advice service for homeless people on citizens advice bureaux network.Miss Hoey : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he intends to withdraw section 73 funding from any of the organisations which currently receive it.
Mr. Chope : Following our review of the homelessness legislation, we have decided to increase by almost threefold the funding of voluntary bodies concerned with homelessness under section 73 of the Housing Act 1985. In the next financial year, £2 million will be available to support a national advice service and to enable voluntary bodies to mount a range of projects of direct and practical help to the homeless. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment has not yet taken any decisions about the organisations which will receive this much increased grant aid under section 73 next year.
Local Government Finance
Mr. Rooker : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the areas with the highest contribution to the safety net if no maximum contribution were set and give the figures for each area.
Mr. Chope : The table shows the areas which would contribute more than £75 per adult to the area safety net in 1990-91 if there were no maximum contribution. The figures use the same data as the exemplifications in the consultation paper my right hon. Friend issued on 6 November.
Areas making highest contributions to safety net
if no maximum
contribution using provisional 1990-91 figures
|Contribution
|(£ per adult)
---------------------------------------------------
City of London |228
Westminster |226
South Bucks |126
Chiltern |124
Kensington and Chelsea |120
Oxford |94
Camden |91
Wycombe |86
Elmbridge |84
Epping Forest |80
Cambridge |75
Mr. Rooker : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what are his latest estimates of the distributional impact of the community charge on household finance ;
(2) what information he has showing the relationship of domestic rates and the community charge to net household income on the equivalent net income basis following his statement of 6 November, Official Report, columns 685-7 ;
(3) if he will construct a table in the same form as figure 4 of Cm. 9714, "Paying for Local Government", showing the first year with safety net and fully in place, the relationship between gross and net community charge to
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net household income for (a) single pensioner households, (b) other single person households, (c) two adult households, and (d) three adult households ;(4) if he will estimate the number of (a) single-pensioner households and (b) single pensioners who will (i) gain and (ii) lose upon introduction of the community charge ;
(5) if he will construct a table similar to table J7 in Cm. 9714 based upon the figures in his statement of 6 November, Official Report, columns 685-7, in respect of the community charge ; (6) if he will produce an updated version of table J7 in Cm. 9714, "Paying for Local Government", showing households gaining and losing with full replacement of domestic rates by the community charge by (a) region, (b) local authority and (c) parliamentary constituency ;
(7) if he will set out in the Official Report his estimates for the main household types of the gains and losses upon the full introduction of the community charge, showing totals, figures net and gross and the effect of rebates.
Mr. Chope : The latest estimates of the distributional impact of the community charge on household finance, using illustrative community charges for 1988-89 were placed in the Library on 15 December 1988. An extension of the analysis to cover pensioner couples was placed in the Library on 28 February 1989.
An analysis using the 1990-91 charges published by my right hon. Friend on 6 November is under preparation and will be published as soon as possible. Analyses by local authority or Parliamentary constituency will not be possible however due to limitations of the sample survey data. There are some limitations on the analyses which can be made by region.
Indigenous Shrubs and Trees
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he offers any advice to local authorities or other public bodies concerning the use of indigenous shrubs and trees in landscaping or reclamation schemes.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : My Department has not issued advice specifically on the use of indigenous shrubs and trees. The NCC has published a booklet "Natural Trees and Shrubs for Wildlife in the UK" which is available to local authorities and which MAFF has distributed to farmers in conjunction with the farm woodland scheme.
Energy Efficiency
Dr. Howells : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to ensure that all new Government buildings will be designed and built utilising the latest available technologies to ensure the maximum energy efficiency.
Mr. Chope : The Property Services Agency will continue to promote the use of the latest energy efficiency technology in the buildings it designs but it is the responsibility of each department sponsoring the construction of new accommodation, to decide on the standards which are to be applied.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy will continue to make available to departments information on relevant technological and other developments.
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Docklands Light Railway
Mr. Spearing : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what permission he has given to the London Docklands development corporation to raise capital for construction of the Beckton extension of the Docklands light railway ; and what is the liability so incurred.
Mr. Moynihan : The Beckton extension of the docklands light railway will be funded by the LDDC from the proceeds of land sales in the royal docks and Leamouth. Any in-year shortfalls between construction costs and land receipts will temporarily be met by grant in aid.
Pewsey Partnership Development
Sir Charles Morrison : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will exempt from the debt requirements of the Housing and Local Government Act the partnership deal between Lovells and Kennet district council for the partnership development at Pewsey.
Mr. David Hunt : I shall write to my hon. Friend.
Regional Fisheries Advisory Committees
Dr. Cunningham : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list for each regional fisheries advisory committee those members who are board members or senior employees of water holding companies, stating, where relevant, their position within the water holding company.
Mr. Chris Patten : The only member of a regional fisheries advisory committee who is either a board member or senior employee of a water holding company is Dr. D. G. Jamieson, water resources manager of Thames Water Utilities Ltd, who is a member of the regional fisheries advisory committee for the Thames region.
Rivers Advisory Committees
Dr. Cunningham : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list for each regional rivers advisory committee those members who are board members or senior employees of water holding companies, stating, where relevant, their position within the water holding company.
Mr. Chris Patten : The information is as follows :
Anglian : Mr. D. Latham--Director of Water Services, Anglian Water Services Ltd.
Northumbria : Mr. A. Foster--Director of Operations, Northumbrian Water Ltd.
North West : Mr. E. Harper--Chief Scientist, North West Water Ltd.
Severn Trent : Mr. W. Scott--Assistant Director, Severn Trent Water Ltd.
Southern : Mr. B. Hewett--Managing Director, Southern Water Services Ltd.
South West : Mr. W. J. Dickens--Director of Water Services, South West Water Ltd.
Thames : Mr. P. T. McIntosh--Water and Environmental Science Director, Thames Water Utilities Ltd.
Welsh : Dr. M. P. Brooker--Quality and Planning Director, Dwr Cymru Cyfyngedig.
Wessex : Mr. C. F. Skellett--Managing Director, Wessex Water Services Ltd.
Yorkshire : Dr. A. J. Shuttleworth--Director of Water Quality, Yorkshire Water Services Ltd.
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Water Companies
Dr. Cunningham : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list, for each water company, the names and status of the trustees nominated for the purpose of the water holding company trust schemes for employee share ownership.
Mr. Chris Patten : The trustee of the trust scheme established by each of the water holding companies is a wholly owned subsidiary of the relevant water holding company. The names of the trustees are as follows :
Anglian Water Share Scheme Trustees Limited
Northumbrian Water Share Scheme Trustees Limited
North West Water Share Scheme Trustees Limited
Severn Trent Water Share Scheme Trustees Limited
Southern Water Share Scheme Trustees Limited
SWW Share Schemes Trustees Limited
Thames Water Share Scheme Trustees Limited
WW Share Scheme Trustees Limited
Wessex Water Trustee Company Limited
Yorkshire Water Share Scheme Trustees Limited.
Sir John Farr : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what was the number of households circulated by Anglian Water plc in respect of their recent publicity campaign ;
(2) what was the number of households circulated by Severn Trent Water plc in respect of their recent publicity campaign ; (3) what was the cost of the recent publicity campaign by Anglian Water plc ;
(4) what was the cost of the recent publicity campaign by Severn Trent Water plc ;
(5) what was the source of funding for the recent publicity campaign by Anglian Water plc ;
(6) what was the source of funding for the recent publicity campaign by Severn Trent Water plc.
Mr. Howard : In September, the chairmen of Anglian Water plc and Severn Trent plc wrote to some 2,247,000 and 3,360,000 customers respectively about the forthcoming water share offers. The cost of these mailings and those by the other eight water plcs will be borne jointly by the water plcs through their subscriptions to the Water Services Association and by the Government. The costs to the Government of marketing the water share offers will be reported to Parliament in due course.
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is the upper limit and lower limit, respectively, on the proportion of shares in each of the 10 water companies which are being made available to foreign investors ;
(2) what is the upper limit and the lower limit, respectively, on the proportion of shares in each of the water companies which will be sold only to British people.
Mr. Howard : Full details are set out in the prospectus for the water share offers, a copy of which has been placed in the Library. Out of the total number of shares on offer, 18.5 per cent. are initially being made available to overseas investors. If there is heavy demand for shares by members of the public in the United Kingdom offers for sale, a clawback provision allows for 25 per cent. of the shares available under the overseas offers to be made available to the public.
Under the United Kingdom offer for sale 23.55 per cent. of the ordinary share capital is being made available
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to the general public (including eligible customers, employees and pensioners of the companies). A further 3 per cent. is reserved for share bonus entitlements and applications from eligible employees under the free and matching offers. If both the overseas and the institutional clawbacks are triggered then 46.75 per cent. of the ordinary share capital is available to the general public. There are no nationality restrictions on the United Kingdom public offer, except that United States and Canadian persons as defined in the prospectus are not permitted to apply. Eligible customers, employees and pensioners of the companies will be given preference over the general public in the allocation of shares as described in the prospectus.Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what protections are built into the flotation process for each of the 10 water companies currently subject to flotations to guard against foreign takeover ; and what guarantees exist to ensure these protections have long-term effects.
Mr. Howard : My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will hold a special share in each of the nine English water and sewage companies which will empower him to prevent anyone owning more than 15 per cent. of the shares in any of the companies in the period until 31 December 1994. There are also provisions in the Water Act 1989 relating to mergers in the water industry. Details of the special share arrangements and the merger provisions of the Water Act 1989 are set out in the prospectus for the water offers, a copy of which has been placed in the Library.
Adjudications
Mr. Blunkett : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what administrative support will be made available to an adjudicator appointed to fulfil the functions described in part I of the Local Government and Housing Act.
Mr. David Hunt : The adjudicator is being given the administrative support reasonably necessary to enable him to fulfil his duties.
Mr. Blunkett : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what remuneration will be made to an adjudicator appointed under part I of the Local Government and Housing Act.
Mr. David Hunt : The adjudicator is being paid on a fee basis at a rate equivalent to the salary of grade 3 in the Civil Service.
Mr. Blunkett : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what timetable an adjudicator appointed to fulfil the functions described in part I of the Local Government and Housing Act is required to work to when producing guidance for local authorities on part I of the Act and when setting up the appeals procedure referred to in section 3.
Mr. David Hunt : Section 3(1)(a) of the Local Government Act 1989 provides that the issue of general advice is at the discretion of the adjudicator ; the timetable for this is therefore a matter for him. Section 3(7) of the Act requires him to give priority, according to the time available before the election, to applications from those
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who certify that they are candidates in a forthcoming election. Subject to that, the timetable for dealing with applications is a matter for the adjudicator.Mr. Blunkett : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment where the office of the adjudicator appointed to fulfil the functions described in part I of the Local Government and Housing Act will be situated ; and how those wishing to appeal will contact him.
Mr. David Hunt : The Department has written to all local authorities involved giving details of the adjudicator's address. This is room 246, Lambeth bridge house, London SE1 7SB. The telephone number for inquiries is 01-238 4316. I understand that the adjudicator will shortly be writing to local authorities and trade unions involved about the procedures he wishes to follow.
Mr. Blunkett : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment who an adjudicator appointed to fulfil the functions described in part I of the Local Government and Housing Act, will consult when drawing up the guidance on political restrictions to be issued to local authorities.
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