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Mr. Peter Walker : The pollution incident on 17 November affected approximately 20 km of the River Rhymney between New Tredegar and Machen. The National Rivers Authority estimates that some 20,000 fish were killed, the majority of which were brown and juvenile sea trout but some grayling and small numbers of juvenile salmon, roach, chub, rainbow trout, pike, adult salmon and sea trout were also affected. There is no discernable evidence of damage of the flora or other fauna of the river. The authority proposes to commence a restocking programme early in 1990.
The NRA will be producing a full report on the incident which will be copied to me. The Welsh region of the Authority has a formal procedure for continually reviewing the effectiveness of its communications and emergency planning systems.
Water Privatisation
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what is the upper limit and the lower limit, respectively, on the proportion of shares in Welsh Water which will be sold only to Welsh people in the current share flotation ;
(2) what is the upper limit and the lower limit, respectively, on the proportion of shares in Welsh Water which are being made available to foreign investors ;
(3) what is the upper limit and the lower limit, respectively, on the proportion of shares in Welsh Water which will be sold only to British people.
Mr. Peter Walker : Initially 18.5 per cent. of the total offer is being made available to overseas investors. If there is a heavy demand for shares by members of the public a clawback provision allows for 25 per cent. of the shares available under the overseas offer 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 to the general public (including eligible customers, employees and pensioners of the company). A further 3
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per cent. is reserved to meet share bonus entitlements and applications from eligible employees under the free and matching offers. If both the overseas and the institutional clawbacks are triggered, 46.875 per cent. of the ordinary share capital is available to the general public.Eligible customers of Welsh Water who apply for shares in the company will be able to indicate whether they wish to receive customer bonus shares or a customer discount if their application is successful. It is for individuals, including those who are Welsh, to decide for themselves whether or not to buy shares.
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proportion of the £62 million cost of the present water flotation will fall to met by Welsh Water plc.
Mr. Peter Walker : The prospectus for the water share offers which has been placed in the Library discloses that Welsh Water estimates that the expenses attributable and incidental to the Welsh combined offer will amount to £5 million (exclusive of VAT).
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what protections are built into the flotation process for Welsh Water to guard against foreign takeover ; and what guarantees exist to ensure these protections have long-term effect.
Mr. Peter Walker : I will hold a special share in Welsh Water which will empower me to prevent anyone from owning more than 15 per cent. of the shares in Welsh Water plc in the period up to 31 December 1994. Following the redemption of the special share the 15 per cent. limitation on shareholding will remain unless it is removed by a vote of 75 per cent. of shareholders in a special resolution.
Housing
Mr. Roy Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many houses in (a) Wales, (b) Gwent and (c) Newport are classified as unfit to live in at the latest available date ; (2) how many houses in (a) Wales, (b) Gwent and (c) Newport are seriously in need of repair at the latest available date ; (3) how many houses in (a) Wales, (b) Gwent and (c) Newport lack (i) an inside toilet and (ii) a fixed bath at the latest available date.
Mr. Peter Walker : Estimates from the 1986 Welsh house condition survey are given in the table together with the available comparative data on the significant improvement achieved since 1981. The data relate only to dwellings used as first homes.
Number of dwellings with certain characteristics ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Unfit |90,900 |79,900 |17,000 |8,800 |1,300 Threshold repair cost<1> |243,900|123,600|30,700 |14,700 |1,700 Lacking inside wc |55,000 |19,600 |6,100 |2,100 |400 Lacking fixed bath or shower |44,300 |14,900 |4,800 |2,000 |400 <1>Threshold figures for repair costs are £2,500 and £3,000 in 1981 and 1986 respectively.
Since 1986, a substantial additional renovation has been carried out with grant assistance : the total numbers
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of dwellings renovated in Wales, Gwent and Newport since October 1986 are 53,900, 8,800 and 1,500 respectively.Column 119
Mr. Roy Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many housing completions there were in (a) Wales, (b) Gwent and (c) Newport in 1979 ; and what is the next recent figure ; (2) how many housing starts there were in 1979 in (a) Wales, (b) Gwent and (c) Newport ; and what is the most recent figure.
Mr. Peter Walker : The information requested is given in the following table :
Housing StartsHousing Completions
|1979 |1988 |1979 |1988
-------------------------------------------
Newport |432 |456 |594 |646
Gwent |1,485 |1,589 |1,575 |1,601
WALES |11,426|13,037|11,265|11,037
CIVIL SERVICE
Trade Unions
127. Mr. Harry Barnes : To ask the Minister for the Civil Service when he last met representatives of the Civil Service trade unions ; and what matters were discussed.
128. Mr. Cryer : To ask the Minister for the Civil Service when he next expects to meet representatives of the Civil Service trade unions to discuss staffing levels.
129. Mr. Skinner : To ask the Minister for the Civil Service when he expects to meet Civil Service trade unions to discuss conditions of service ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Luce : I refer the hon. Members to the reply that I gave earlier to the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, Central (Mr. Fisher).
Management Training
Mr. Gerald Bowden : To ask the Minister for the Civil Service what steps he is taking to promote management training in the Civil Service.
Mr. Luce : Management development programmes are available to all levels of managers in the Civil Service. The top management programme, a six-week course with equal numbers of civil servants and non-civil servants, caters for all those newly promoted to grade 3 (under-secretary). The senior management development programme, a scheme involving a wide range of developmental opportunities, provides a framework for the systematic development of managers at grades 4 to 7 (broadly, assistant secretary to principal). A wide range of other opportunities is available to more junior managers. The Civil Service College provides high quality management training for senior and developmental grades.
In their response to the first report of the Treasury and Civil Service Select Committee on Next Steps, the Government announced an incentive funding scheme designed to encourage Departments to increase their investment in training and development carried out as part of the senior mangement development programme. I am pleased to say that Departments and agencies have risen to the challenge, and this scheme has been responsible for considerable additional investment in these key management grades. I am delighted to announce that £1 million has been made available for continuing the challenge funding scheme in 1990-91.
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NATIONAL FINANCE
Civil Service Dispersal
132. Mr. Harry Greenway : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Civil Service jobs have been moved from London to other areas in each of the past three years ; what steps have been taken to ensure that these operations have given satisfactory results to the public ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Ryder : Comprehensive data for the period in question is not held centrally. However, we can confirm that since April 1986 more than 4,000 Civil Service posts have been located or relocated away from London. The relocation guidelines (copy available in the Library of the House) require relocating departments to ensure that operational efficiency and overall cost effectiveness are taken into proper account in their decisions, which are announced by the relevant departmental Minister.
Privatisation
Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the latest figure for the total income from the selling into the private sector of state-owned industries and companies since 1979.
Mr. Lilley : The net proceeds from privatisation since May 1979 to date amount to some £27 billion.
Company Borrowing
Mr. Skinner : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he next expects to meet the Governor of the Bank of England to discuss company borrowing ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Ryder : My right hon. Friend the Chancellor meets the Governor from time to time to discuss matters of current interest.
Interest Rates
Mr. Allen : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects interest rates to fall.
Mr. Ryder : Interest rates will be kept as high as is needed for as long as is needed to bring down inflation.
Mr. Bell : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the impact of high interest rates on the number of unemployed ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Ryder : The current level of interest rates is designed to bring down inflation. High inflation is the greatest threat to jobs.
Ms. Abbott : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on interest rates.
Mr. Ryder : Bank base rates are 15 per cent.
Business Start-ups
Mr. Bellingham : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many business start-ups there were during the latest quarter for which figures are available.
Mr. Norman Lamont : In the calendar year 1988, the latest for which official figures have been published by the
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Employment Department, the net increase in the number of businesses registered for VAT was 64,000, an average of over 1,200 a week, the highest recorded level. This compares with an average weekly increase of around 800 a week in 1987.Manufacturing, East Midlands
Mr. Oppenheim : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much manufacturing output in the east midlands has changed in real terms since 1979.
Mr. Norman Lamont : I regret that this information is not available. Constant price estimates are not made because there are no regional price indices.
Investment
Mr. Page : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the latest available figures for inward investment in the United Kingdom.
Mr. Norman Lamont : The latest information on the level of direct investment in the United Kingdom by overseas residents was published in British Business of 29 September 1989. Table 9.1 of the 1989 United Kingdom balance of payments (Pink Book) contains the latest information on the level of portfolio investment in the United Kingdom by overseas residents.
Banking and Currency
Mrs. Gorman : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has any plans to discuss with the European Community the development of a free market in banking and currency.
Mr. Ryder : The Government are fully committed to the European single market after 1992. Financial services legislation will form a major part of the measures introduced to secure the single market and many of these have already been agreed or are under active consideration. In the banking field, the Council agreed a common position text for the second banking co-ordination directive and the associated solvency ratios directive in July. These directives, together with the own funds directive, which was formally adopted in April 1989, make up a package of measures which are intended to secure a single market in banking. Briefly, these measures will provide credit institutions (largely banks and building societies in the United Kingdom) which are authorised in one member state with a "passport" to offer banking services throughout the Community without the need of further authorisation. Further information can be obtained from the DTI booklet "The Single Market : Financial Services" published in September 1989, copies of which are available in the Library of the House.
The Council adopted the capital liberalisation directive on 24 June 1988 which provides for the free movement of capital across the Community. Remaining exchange controls in most member states are due to be abolished from 1 July 1990 ; but Spain, Ireland, Greece and Portugal have until the end of 1992 to comply with all its terms (with the possibility of a further extension for three years in Greece and Portugal). The Government strongly support the removal of exchange controls in the community : this is essential for the development of a single market. The United Kingdom abolished all exchange controls in 1979.
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The United Kingdom's response to the Delors report "An Evolutionary Approach to Economic and Monetary Union", also proposes lifting further restrictions on the use of Community currencies and removing barriers to the use of cheaper and more efficient means of payment.Government Expenditure
Mr. Prescott : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out general Government expenditure by his Department for the years 1974-75 to 1983-84, in cash and real terms, consistent with the figures for 1984-85 to 1992-93 that are set out in tables 3 and 4 of the 1989 Autumn Statement.
Mr. Lamont : Figures for central Government's own expenditure by my Departments in the years 1978-79 to 1983-84 consistent with those given in tables 3 and 4 of the 1989 Autumn Statement public expenditure press notice are as follows :
£ billion
|Cash figures |Real terms figures
|(1988-89 prices)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1978-79 |1.5 |3.2
1979-80 |1.7 |3.3
1980-81 |2.0 |3.2
1981-82 |2.5 |3.6
1982-83 |2.7 |3.6
1983-84 |2.5 |3.3
Corresponding figures for earlier years are not readily available.
Balance of Trade
Mr. Win Griffiths : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the annual balance of trade deficit or surplus for each of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries in each year of the 1980s.
Mr. Ryder : A trade balance series for each OECD country is published by the IMF in "International Financial Statistics Yearbook".
Inflation
Mr. Win Griffiths : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the rate of inflation at the end of March in each year of the 1980s in each of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries.
Mr. Ryder : Monthly figures for the 12-month growth in consumer price inflation for each OECD country have been published by the OECD throughout the 1980s in the monthly publication "Main Economic Indicators".
THE ARTS
Funding
93. Mr. Fraser : To ask the Minister for the Arts what will be the rate of increase of Government support for the arts over the next three years.
Mr. Luce : The central Government programme of expenditure on the arts will increase by 24 per cent. over the next three years at an average rate of 7.5 per cent. per year.
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96. Mr. Jessel : To ask the Minister for the Arts by what percentage the funding of his Department will increase in 1990 -91 over 1989-90.97. Mr. Michael : To ask the Minister for the Arts what information he has as to what proportion of money for the arts announced in the Chancellor's Autumn Statement will be applied to (a) arts for the disabled, (b) arts for young people and (c) arts in the community.
Mr. Luce : The proportion of my Office's expenditure programme which are devoted to the causes described are not determined centrally. However, the institutions funded from the arts programme are aware of the needs of the disabled, etc and are free to give such support within their individual priorities. I was pleased to be able to announce a grant of £150,000 to the Carnegie trust ADAPT fund to improve the accessibility of arts venues to the disabled.
98. Mr. Couchman : To ask the Minister for the Arts what are the increases for the next three years in the funding of the Arts Council.
102. Mr. John Greenway : To ask the Minister for the Arts if he will make a further statement on the increased budget for arts funding announced in the Autumn Statement.
99. Mr. Burns : To ask the Minister for the Arts what representations he has received following the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Autumn Statement as to the allocation of funding to the arts.
Mr. Luce : I am pleased to say that I have received a number of letters of appreciation from chairmen and directors of institutions which have benefited from the revised allocations I was able to announce on 16 November.
104. Mr. Bowis : To ask the Minister for the Arts what representations he has received following his statement of support for the Arts Council and other arts funding bodies for 1990-91 and subsequent years.
Mr. Luce : I have received many representations thanking the Government for the substantial increase in arts funding which I announced on 16 November.
106. Mr. Watts : To ask the Minister for the Arts whether he will make a statement on three-year funding.
Mr. Luce : My aim in introducing three-year funding has been to give arts bodies a firm basis for their future planning and to encourage greater self-reliance and diversification of funding. This has involved the introduction of new measures, notably incentive funding for the performing arts and for libraries, and major increases in funding for the buildings and maintenance programme of the museums and galleries. I am very pleased at the success of the three-year strategy and congratulate arts and organisations on their achievements in diversifying and increasing their sources of funding from the private sector, and on becoming more professional in their management in recent years.
On 16 November I announced that following a review of the provisions made in last year's three-year settlement for 1990-91 and 1991-92, in the light of price movements
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and other developments. I was increasing those provisions by £33 million in each year. I was also pleased to announce an extension of the three-year funding programme to 1992-93, with an increase of 24 per cent. over that period.107. Mr. Kirkhope : To ask the Minister for the Arts, whether he will make a statement on the budget of the Office of Arts and Libraries for the next three years.
Mr. Luce : My Office's total central Government programme of expenditure on the arts, including provision for the heritage and for the British Library St. Pancras project, will rise from £439 million in the current year to £544 million in 1992-93, an increase of 24 per cent.
115. Miss Widdecombe : To ask the Minister for the Arts whether the priority requests from the directors of the national museums and galleries have been met in his allocation of funds over the coming three years.
Mr. Luce : In the funding announcement that I made on 16 November I have taken account of the priorities detailed in the corporate plans of the national museums and galleries submitted to us earlier this year, especially on running costs, buildings, and maintenance and the conservation of collections. Over the period 1990-91 to 1992-93 expenditure on national museums and galleries will rise by 25 per cent. overall, and there will be an extra 34 per cent. for building and maintenance in the same period.
Wilding Report
94. Mr. Meale : To ask the Minister for the Arts whether he has met the chairman and director of East Midlands Arts to discuss the Wilding report.
Mr. Luce : I have not yet done so.
103. Mr. Geraint Howells : To ask the Minister for the Arts what timetable he is envisaging for his response to the Wilding report on regional arts.
Mr. Luce : I hope to announce my decision on Mr. Wilding's recommendations as soon as possible in the new year.
105. Mr. Eastham : To ask the Minister for the Arts whether he has met the chairman and director of North West Arts to discuss the Wilding report.
Mr. Luce : I have not done so, but I plan that such a meeting should take place in the near future.
114. Mr. Morley : To ask the Minister for the Arts whether he intends to meet the chairman and director of the Lincolnshire and Humberside Arts Association to discuss the implications of the Wilding report.
Mr. Luce : I have asked for written representations but will, of course, be prepared to see the chairman and director if they wish.
Mr. Vaz : To ask the Minister for the Arts what representations he has received on the proposals in the Wilding report from arts organisations and local authorities in the east midlands.
Mr. Luce : I have received a number of representations from such bodies.
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Inflation
95. Mr. Jacques Arnold : To ask the Minister for the Arts whether he will make a statement on the effect of inflation on arts bodies over the past two years.
Mr. Luce : The settlement I announced recently for the next three years has taken into account levels of inflation in the last two years.
117. Mr. Knapman : To ask the Minister for the Arts what is the increase over the next two years in the grant to the Arts Council.
98. Mr. James Couchman : To ask the Minister for the Arts, what are the increases for the next three years in the funding of the Arts Council.
Mr. Luce : I refer my hon. Friends to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Warrington, South (Mr. Butler) earlier today.
Museums and Galleries (Repairs)
100. Mr. Gerald Bowden : To ask the Minister for the Arts how he intends to meet the need for the repair and refurbishment of museums and galleries.
Mr. Luce : I announced on 16 November that the provision for the building and maintenance programme at the national museums and galleries which I sponsor will increase by 34 per cent. to some £64 million in 1992-93. This will bring the total provision for building and maintenance over the next three years to over £180 million.
Southern Arts
101. Mr. Martin : To ask the Minister for the Arts what benefits there will be for Southern Arts as a result of the increased expenditure for the arts announced in the Autumn Statement.
Mr. Luce : It is for the Arts Council to determine the level of its grant to the 12 regional arts associations. In 1990-91 these will increase by 10 per cent. in total. I am confident that this will enable all the RAAs to build on their excellent achievements of recent years.
Autumn Statement
108. Mr. David Shaw : To ask the Minister for the Arts if he will make a statement on the implications for his Office of the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Autumn Statement.
Mr. Luce : I refer my hon. Friend to my announcement on 16 November about the new three-year arts programme, which followed directly on the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Autumn Statement and the public expenditure programmes it contained. My new programme allows for growth on 24 per cent. over the years to 1992-93.
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