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Official Secrets Act
Mr. Corbett : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will list those public bodies to which he appoints people where it is required that a declaration is made under the Official Secrets Act as a condition of membership.
Mr. Waddington : None of the people I appoint to public bodies are required to sign a declaration that they recognise that they are bound by the terms of the Official Secrets Act. Whether or not such a declaration is signed does not affect the application of the law in any specific case.
Firearms
Mr. William Ross : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constables of police as to whether they require from the applicant for a shotgun certificate evidence by way of written permission to shoot over farmland before granting the certificate.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : Responsibility for the grant or renewal of a shotgun certificate is a matter for chief officers of police who must have regard to the statutory requirements of the Firearms Acts 1968 to 1988.
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My right hon. and learned Friend has issued guidance to chief officers of police in the publication entitled "Firearms Law : Guidance to the Police", a copy of which is in the Library.Mr. William Ross : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those provisions of the Firearms Acts that refer to procedures governing applicants for shotgun licences.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : Section 26 of the Firearms Act 1968, as amended by sections 9 and 10 of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1988, provides for applications for the grant and renewal of a shotgun certificate to be made in the prescribed form. Sections 26 and 53 of the 1968 Act empower the Secretary of State to make rules prescribing the form of application and certificates. These are set out in the Firearms Rules 1989, a copy of which is in the Library.
Child Abuse
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce a requirement whereby if a sexual abuse offender admits guilt the mother must be informed if the offender intends to return to the parental home.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : If a suspect admits that he has sexually abused a child, it will be for the police, and subsequently the courts, to decide whether he should be kept in custody or released on bail while criminal proceedings are pending. Under the arrangements recommended in "Working Together", social service departments should be fully informed of any decisions to release a suspect on bail, and able to take whatever steps are needed to protect the interests of the child. However, my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Health and my right hon. and learned Friend will consider whether further guidance is needed on this aspect.
Water Charges
Mr. Madden : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people in Bradford have been issued with court summonses in the last year, to date, to appear in court for the non-payment of water charges ; how many people have been fined ; what level of fine was imposed ; and what other sentence was imposed.
Mr. Waddington : This information is not held centrally.
Prisoners (Complaints)
Mr. Wheeler : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the report of the working group established to examine the proposals in the report of Her Majesty's chief inspector of prisons on prisoners' complaints.
Mr. Waddington : I am issuing today the report of the working group on grievance procedures and placing a copy in the Library. I have not reached any firm views on the working group's proposals and would welcome comments on them. They should be sent to
P3 Division
Her Majesty's Prison Service
Room 717
Cleland House
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Page StreetLONDON
SW1P 4LN
by 22 January 1990.
ENERGY
Independent Electricity Producers
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many gas turbine, wind and landfill gas projects capable of producing up to 5, 000 MW of electricity there are in Britain ; and how many such companies have gone into receivership since the Government first announced their privatisation plans.
Mr. Peter Morrison : The information is as follows :
Gas Turbines
The CEGB currently has 11 gas turbine power stations having a declared net capacity of around 2,500 MW.
Wind Energy
There are nearly 30 known grid-connected or otherwise significant wind energy installations with a total installed capacity of around 8 MW.
Landfill Gas
There are 13 known existing projects totalling 16 MW installed capacity.
None of the above is known to have gone into receivership.
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he last met the Association of Independent Electricity Producers ; what was discussed ; and if he will commission a survey to discover how electricity privatisation will affect smaller generating companies.
Mr. Michael Spicer : My right hon. Friend last met the Association of Independent Electricity Producers on 19 October to discuss developments in our thinking on privatisation and my Department will continue to keep them in touch with progress. We are confident our proposals for the ESI will offer good prospects for independent generation. I do not see the need for a survey.
Collieries
Mr. Barron : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many British Coal operating collieries there are in the current year and each previous year since 1979.
Mr. Michael Spicer : The number of operating collieries is published in British Coal's annual report and accounts, a copy of which is in the Library of the House. British Coal currently has 76 operating collieries.
Mr. Barron : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what was the number of men on colliery books by British Coal area, for each year since 1979.
Mr. Michael Spicer : Average colliery manpower by British Coal area is shown in British Coal's annual report and accounts, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.
Power Stations
Mr. Barron : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the average production output and potential output of each Central Electricity Generating Board power station for each of the last three years.
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Mr. Michael Spicer : The information requested by the hon. Member with respect to 1986-87 and 1987-88 is contained in the statistical yearbook of the CEGB's annual reports, copies of which are in the Library of the House. The 1988-89 yearbook has yet to be published.Mr. Barron : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the oil-fired power stations and indicate which can be dual-fired.
Mr. Michael Spicer : The information requested by the hon. Member is contained in the statistical yearbook of the CEGB's 1987-88 annual report, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.
Coal Exports
Mr. Barron : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what is the amount of British Coal output which will be exported in the current year ; and what was the amount for each year since 1979 ; (2) what is the size of British Coal's domestic market in the current year and in each year since 1979 ;
(3) what is the size of British Coal's industrial and commercial market for the current year ; and what it was in each year since 1979.
Mr. Michael Spicer : These are commercial matters for the British Coal Corporation and I have, therefore, asked the chairman to write to the hon. Member.
Early Retirement Payments (Electricity Boards)
Dr. Marek : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what has been the cost to the individual area electricity boards of early retirement payments to their senior and middle management.
Mr. Michael Spicer : This is a matter for the industry. I am asking the chairman of the Electricity Council to write to the hon. Member.
ATTORNEY-GENERAL
Legal Aid (Northern Ireland)
Mr. William Ross : To ask the Attorney-General what sums have been paid out in legal aid for fees to (a) solicitors and (b) barristers in Northern Ireland in each of the last three years.
The Attorney-General : The figures for payments out of the legal aid fund in each of the last three financial years to (a) solicitors and to (b) barristers are as follows :
(b) Financial |Total year --------------------------------------- 1986-87 |1,841,119 1987-88 |<1>1,666,831 1988-89 |2,499,817 <1> This figure is an estimated apportionment of legal aid fees paid to solicitors and barristers. Difficulties encountered during the initial stages of computerisation of the Legal Aid Department prevented barristers' fees and solicitors' fees in respect of Civil Legal Aid being accounted for separately.
(b) Financial |Total year --------------------------------------- 1986-87 |1,841,119 1987-88 |<1>1,666,831 1988-89 |2,499,817 <1> This figure is an estimated apportionment of legal aid fees paid to solicitors and barristers. Difficulties encountered during the initial stages of computerisation of the Legal Aid Department prevented barristers' fees and solicitors' fees in respect of Civil Legal Aid being accounted for separately.
Mr. William Ross : To ask the Attorney-General what sums have been paid out in legal aid in Northern Ireland in each of the last three years.
The Attorney-General : The total expenditure from public funds for legal aid in Northern Ireland for the last three years is as follows :
|£
---------------------------------
1986-87 |9,009,849
1987-88 |10,000,384
1988-89 |13,080,815
Mr. William Ross : To ask the Attorney-General whether he has taken any steps to determine the perceived religion of those persons who have received legal aid in Northern Ireland in each of the last three years.
The Attorney-General : Persons who receive civil legal aid do so on the grounds of financial eligibility and where applicable, on grounds that their involvement in the proceedings is reasonable, as is their receipt of legal aid in the particular circumstances of the case. Persons who receive criminal legal aid do so at the discretion of the court, it being satisfied that granting a certificate is desirable in the interests of justice and is necessary to assist the defendant in meeting the costs of the case.
A person's perceived religion does not have any bearing upon the decision- making process, and no steps have been taken to determine the perceived religion of recipients of legal aid in Northern Ireland.
EDUCATION AND SCIENCE
Bulwell St. Mary's School
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he received a letter from the head teacher of Bulwell St. Mary's Church of England primary school ; and what response he has made.
Mrs. Rumbold : My right hon. Friend received a letter from Mr. J. St. John, the head teacher at Bulwell St. Mary's Church of England primary school on 10 November 1989. A response will be sent as soon as possible.
Education Act 1988
Mr. Parry : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how he intends to respond to letters he has received from head teachers, parents and governors in Liverpool expressing concern regarding the implementation of the Education Act 1988.
Mrs. Rumbold : All letters to this Department will continue to receive appropriate replies which I hope the recipients find helpful.
Mr. Parry : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many letters of concern regarding the implementation of the Education Act 1988 he has received from head teachers, parents and governors throughout the United Kingdom.
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Mrs. Rumbold : The information is not readily available in the form requested. My right hon. Friend frequently receives correspondence about various aspects of the provisions of the Education Reform Act 1988 from head teachers, parents and governors.Child Abuse
Mrs. Dunwoody : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if the circular "Working Together for the Protection of Children From Abuse : Procedures within the Education Service", is available to persons other than educational authorities.
Mr. Alan Howarth : The circular was sent to a wide range of educational bodies in addition to local education authorities, including maintained schools, non-maintained special schools and independent schools, and institutions providing courses of initial teacher training. The circular was also sent to local authority social services departments, health authorities and family practitioner committees.
Mrs. Dunwoody : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to receive the report on the progress of the programme initiated by his Department to monitor the protection of children from child abuse ; how many education authorities have taken action following his circular ; and how many individual educational programmes have been established.
Mr. Alan Howarth : Local education authorities' reports to the Department on action they have taken to implement the recommendations in circular 4/88 are due by the end of this month. These will provide information about programmes which local education authorities are undertaking.
School Examinations and Assessment Council
Mr. Bowis : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has yet replied to the advice of the School Examinations and Assessment Council on the issues which it raised in July, in the context of A-level and AS examinations, on education and training of 16 to 19-year- olds generally and on the vocational relevance of academic study ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. MacGregor : I am writing today to SEAC, with a parallel letter to the National Curriculum Council, and placing copies of both letters in the Library of the House.
I am concerned to see that all young people aged 16 to 19, including those studying for advanced and advanced supplementary examinations, should be equipped with the general skills, knowledge and understanding needed for employment and adult life generally in the 21st century.
I have therefore asked the SEAC and the NCC, working together and with other interested parties including the National Council for Vocational Qualifications, the further education unit and the Training Agency, to define the common skills and knowledge which are needed by advanced-level and advanced supplementary examination syllabuses. I have also asked the SEAC, in its future work in this area, to take account of widely expressed concerns about the apparent gap in the structure of qualifications between GCSE and A-levels. I believe that the work now set in hand will increase the breadth and relevance of study of advanced-level students,
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and also ensure the development of links between A-AS qualifications and vocational qualifications, which will in the longer term improve opportunities for progression and credit transfer for all young people aged 16 to 19 in education and training.TRANSPORT
Waterloo Development
Miss Hoey : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his latest estimate of the likely increase of road users and the effect on traffic congestion as a result of the construction of the Channel tunnel terminal at Waterloo.
Mr. Portillo : The effect of the additional traffic flow generated by the Channel tunnel terminal on the surrounding road network is not expected to be significant, provided that British Rail proceeds with its proposals to improve the internal road layout within the station. This issue was discussed at some length during parliamentary proceedings on the Channel Tunnel Bill.
Miss Hoey : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his latest estimate of the effect on local residents, traffic circulation and local businesses as a result of development proposals for the Waterloo area ; and whether, in view of these developments, he will agree to a public inquiry into the strategy and co-ordination of developments in the Waterloo area.
Mr. Moynihan : I have been asked to reply.
The effects of development proposals are for the local authority to assess. I recognise that there are a number of proposals for development in the Waterloo area, one of which has recently been the subject of a public inquiry. There are others which may be the subject of future inquiries as part of the planning process. In view of this, and the recent adoption of alterations of the Waterloo district plan which would be a material consideration at public inquiries, I see no need for holding a public inquiry to co-ordinate several unrelated developments for the area.
Swanley-London Rail Link
Miss Hoey : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will list the latest estimated figures on the amount of increased traffic, particularly freight traffic, that will use existing rail lines as a result of British Rail's decision not to build a tunnel for a high-speed rail link to Waterloo, London from Swanley, specifying the number and size of increased trains on existing routes, the frequency of these trains and the amount of night-time movement of freight ;
(2) what works will be required to upgrade sections of existing railway lines on the route from Swanley to central London to allow for the increased passenger and freight traffic ; when these works will commence and how long they will take to complete ; what is the latest estimate of the effect on local communities of these works ; and what arrangements have been made for compensation to local residents on the effect of any upgrading works.
Mr. Portillo : These are matters now being studied by British Rail and its chosen private sector partner, Eurorail.
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Dalton-in-Furness Bypass
Mr. Franks : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to make an announcement regarding the A590 Dalton-in-Furness bypass.
Mr. Atkins : The inspector's report on the public inquiry is expected shortly. An announcement will be made as soon as my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Transport and for the Environment have considered it.
Scarisbrick-Pinfold Bypass
Mr. Hind : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will appoint consultants to advise him on the proposed route of the Scarisbrick- Pinfold bypass ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Atkins : The Department is appointing consultants for new schemes included in the White Paper "Roads for Prosperity" in several tranches over a period of about 12 months. I expect to invite competitive bids for this scheme early next year. Our aim will be to consult the public on route options within two years of appointing a consultant.
Channel Rail Link
Mr. Thurnham : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will raise the designation of the Channel rail link as a route qualifying for assistance under the proposed European Community transport infrastructure scheme when he next meets his fellow European Transport Ministers ; and if he will make a statement on the proposals.
Mr. Portillo : The Council of Ministers has yet to decide whether any further grants should be made from budget line 580 beyond the end of this year. It would be premature to consider what specific projects might or might not benefit from a future programme.
Green Roof Marker Lights
Mr. Roger King : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will consider the safety aspects of forward-facing green-coloured roof marker lights displayed by trucks.
Mr. Atkins : I am not aware of any safety benefit, or harm, due to green roof-mounted lights on trucks.
The rules on lighting require that if additional lamps are fitted which serve to indicate the width as well as the presence of the vehicle, they must emit white light. These do not, however, prohibit the fitting of green ornamental lights near the centre of truck roofs.
Learner Motor Cyclists
Mr. Fearn : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has on the practice of companies employing L-plate motor cycle and moped riders for delivery of goods ; and if he intends to bring in regulations to prohibit such practice.
Mr. Atkins : Motor cycle couriers provide a useful service. It requires skill and experience. We deplore the use of unqualified riders, and no responsible company should employ them for the delivery of goods.
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Roads (London)
Mr. Cox : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a further statement on any recent decisions affecting the London assessment studies.
Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has anything to add to the answer given by the Minister for Roads and Traffic on 1 November on Roads (London), Official Report, column 192, in the light of the letters he sent to the hon. Members for Richmond and Barnes (Mr. Hanley) and for Hornsey and Wood Green (Sir H. Rossi), advising them that he had asked the consultants for the London assessment studies to study the possibility of building roads along the line of the Parkland walk and across Barnes common in tunnels.
Mr. Atkins : No. We expect the consultants' report to be published next month.
Mr. Cox : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what has been the total cost to his Department of the London road assessment studies ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Atkins : The cost to date of the London assessment studies is £8.5 million.
Mr. Cox : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what will be the cost to purchase a copy of the London road assessment studies report when it is published ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Atkins : The selling price of the consultants' reports has yet to be determined.
Land Values
Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport why his Department does not retain information on the values ascribed to individual portions of land needed for trunk road construction.
Mr. Atkins : The extent of the information held by the Department on the value of individual plots of land needed for trunk road constuction varies according to the circumstances of each case and the stage the preparation of the scheme has reached. Information in respect of individual plots, when available, is not made public since this could prejudice negotiations and would breach confidentiality between the Department and individual land owners.
Page Street (Development)
Mr. Campbell-Savours : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make it his policy to reject any application to divert the public right of way in the case of the Property Services Agency proposals to develop Page street, SW1.
Mr. Atkins : Such matters must be considered on their merits in accordance with the normal statutory procedures. A draft order under section 209 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1971 proposing the stopping up of the relevant length of Page street was published on 12 October. Objections received to that draft order are being considered. An announcement will be made shortly on the next step in the statutory procedures.
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