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Written Answers to Questions
Tuesday 12 December 1989
THE ARTS
New Museums
Mr. Baldry : To ask the Minister for the Arts how many new museums have been opened in the last three years.
Mr. Luce : The Museums Association database estimated in 1988 that the number of museums and galleries in the United Kingdom was estimated to have risen to some 2,400 from approximately 1,750 in 1984.
I understand that the Museum and Galleries Commission estimates that the number has now risen to approximately 2,500.
National Television Archive
Dr. Kim Howells : To ask the Minister for the Arts if he intends to set up a national television archive ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Luce : The British Film Institute already operates an extensive film and television archive and I hope that it will be possible for them to extend this in co-operation with the television industry.
CIVIL SERVICE
Agencies
Mr. Andrew Mitchell : To ask the Minister for the Civil Service what further progress has been made in the establishment of agencies ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Luce : Since I last reported to the House, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment has announced, on 1 December at column 461, his intention that the Employment Service should be launched as an executive agency in April 1990.
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Mr. Baldry : To ask the Minister for the Civil Service what proportion of the Civil Service is covered by both existing and proposed agencies.
Mr. Luce : Staff in the 10 executive agencies established so far under the Next Steps initiative taken together with those in the functions announced to date as candidates for agency status, represent about one third of the Civil Service.
NORTHERN IRELAND
Health and Social Services (Appointments)
The Rev. Martin Smyth : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will list all area board and district manager and any deputy posts which have been recruited in the last four years, together with the salaries and length of contract ;
(2) if he will list all director, assistant director and deputy posts which have been recruited or advertised in the last four years by health and social services boards, together with the length of contracts offered and the salaries ;
(3) what information he has about further plans by health and social services boards to recruit management posts ; what was the total cost of all posts recruited in the last four years and any posts currently being advertised ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Peter Bottomley : The appointment of general managers and senior managers at board and unit of management level is a matter for boards to decide in accordance with determinations and guidance issued by the Department of Health and Social Services. This guidance is available in the Library.
The information requested in respect of general manager and senior manager posts including the present basic salaries and length of contracts is set out in the tables below.
The boards will be proceeding to fill other senior manager posts at board headquarters and units of management.
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Table 2
General manager-senior manager posts for which boards are in the process of
recruiting
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Table 2
General manager-senior manager posts for which boards are in the process of
recruiting
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ENERGY
Mersey Barrage
Mr. Alton : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what representations he has received about the Mersey barrage ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Peter Morrison : As the hon. Member knows from my discussions with him, an application for inclusion in the initial tranche of the non- fossil fuel obligation has been made by the Mersey Barrage Company. This application is being considered and discussions are taking place with the company.
The Mersey barrage project can be considered for inclusion in the non- fossil fuel obligation only if agreement is reached between area boards and the company on a suitable contract and the project is commercially viable.
Coal
Mr. Riddick : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will provide details of any agreements for British Coal to supply coal to National Power and Powergen in future years.
Mr. Michael Spicer : My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy indicated the main terms of the coal supply contracts recently agreed between British Coal and National Power and PowerGen in the Second Reading debate on the Coal Industry Bill on 4 December. The details, however, are a commercial matter for the parties concerned.
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Nuclear Power
Mr. Paice : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what plans he has to re-evaluate the role of nuclear power in the context of environmental damage from fossil fuels.
Mr. Michael Spicer : The Government recognise the contribution that nuclear power can make towards minimising the problems of the greenhouse effect and acid rain caused by the burning of fossil fuels. My hon. Friend will recall the statement made to the House by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy on 9 November when he said that
"the Government will wish to review the prospects for nuclear power as the Sizewell project nears completion in 1994".
The environmental advantages of nuclear power will be taken fully into account in this review.
Electricite de France
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what subjects he intends to raise when he next meets the head of Electricite de France.
Mr. Michael Spicer : My right hon. Friend and I have no plans to meet the head of Electricite de France.
Reactor Programmes (Costs)
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many meetings have been held between his Department and (a) the Central Electricity Generating Board, (b) the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority and (c) British Nuclear Fuels plc, on the issues of decommissioning costs, reprocessing costs and nuclear
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waste management costs for (i) the Magnox reactor programme and (ii) the advanced gas cooled reactor programme in the last 12 months ; and what reports have been received by his Department from these organisations on these subjects over the past year.Mr. Michael Spicer : My Department has had many meetings with the CEGB, BNFL and UKAEA in the past year at which the topics of decommissioning, reprocessing and nuclear waste management were discussed. My Department has received a report from the UKAEA reviewing the CEGB's decommissioning cost estimates for their Magnox and AGR nuclear power stations.
CEGB Chairman
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) how many meetings he has had with the chairman of the Central Electricity Generating Board since 1 September ; how many telephone conversations he has had with the Central Electricity Generating Board chairman over the same time span ; and what issues were discussed in each communication ;
(2) what correspondence he has had with the chairman of the Central Electricity Generating Board since 25 July ; what issues were addressed ; and if he will place copies of the correspondence in the Library.
Mr. Michael Spicer : My right hon. Friend and I are in regular contact with the chairman of the Central Electricity Generating Board about matters of mutual interest. These communications are confidential.
Nuclear Reactors (Czechoslovakia)
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he has any plans to offer United Kingdom designed nuclear reactors to Czechoslovakia, under the enabling arrangements of articles III and IV of the nuclear non- proliferation treaty, in support of Czechoslovakia's industrial and environmental plan to reduce dependence on fossil fuel-generated electricity.
Mr. Michael Spicer : My right hon. Friend and I have no such plans.
Spent Nuclear Fuel (Sellafield)
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make it his policy to deposit with the new European Environmental Agency full details of all contracts held by British Nuclear Fuels with foreign bodies for the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel at Sellafield and to include details of all categories of radioactive waste arising.
Mr. Michael Spicer : It will be for the agency to request whatever information or analysis it requires to carry out the work programme approved by its management board in due course.
British Nuclear Fuels Ltd.
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will set out his responsibilities in regard to the operation of the British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. Sellafield plant.
Mr. Michael Spicer : Responsibility for the operation of the Sellafield site rests with British Nuclear Fuels plc.
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Uranium
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what was the total of processed uranium exported by the United Kingdom in each year since 1973-74 (a) in tonnes and (b) in value at constant prices ; and what was the total of uranium imported by the United Kingdom in each year since 1973-74 : (a) in tonnes and (b) in value at constant prices.
Mr. Michael Spicer : Since 1979, uranium ore concentrate containing over 10,000 tonnes of uranium, has been imported for use in the United Kingdom civil programme. During the same period, uranium ore concentrate containing over 30,000 tonnes of uranium, has been processed by British Nuclear Fuels plc on behalf of overseas customers for subsequent export. Annual figures could be given only at disproportionate cost. The value of this material is commercially confidential. All such uranium is subject to Euratom safeguards and to the terms of the United Kingdom-Euratom- International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards agreement.
Murton Colliery
Mr. Cummings : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement concerning the future use of the 40-acre spoil tip at Murton colliery.
Mr. Michael Spicer : The use of land belonging to British Coal is a matter for its management to determine. I have asked the chairman to write to the hon. Member.
Collieries (Work Hours)
Mr. Cummings : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what are the average hours worked by employees underground, and surface, at Murton, Dawdon, Easington and Vane Tempest collieries week by week in the current financial year.
Mr. Michael Spicer : This is a matter for British Coal. I have asked the chairman to write to the hon. Member.
Privately-owned Mines
Mr. Ronnie Campbell : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many men are employed underground in privately-owned mines in the north- east.
Mr. Michael Spicer : This is a matter for British Coal. I have asked the chairman of British Coal, the licensing authority for privately-owned mines, to write to the hon. Member.
Nuclear Electric plc
Mr. Eadie : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what will be the salaries of (a) the chairman and chief executive, (b) the deputy chairman with special responsibilities for production, (c) the director for corporate affairs and personnel, (d) the director of construction and future programmes, and (e) non-executive directors of the new company Nuclear Electric plc.
Mr. Michael Spicer : The designate board of Nuclear Electric have been appointed at the following salaries :
(i) The chairman is paid £125,000 per annum.
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(ii) Full time members of the board are paid in the range £60, 000-70,000 per annum.Non-executive members of the Board have not yet been appointed.
Nuclear Power (Subsidies)
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what discussions have recently taken place between officials from his Department and the European Commission on the implications of his plans to subsidise nuclear electricity in regard to European Community rules on energy marketing and competition policy.
Mr. Michael Spicer : A number of meetings have taken place with the Commission in recent months on a range of issues to do with electricity privatisation.
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Energy Conservation
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will give for each region and for the United Kingdom as a whole, for every quarter and every full year since neighbourhood energy action schemes started, the number of (a) neighbourhood energy action schemes, (b) draught proofing jobs completed under national energy schemes, (c) loft insulation jobs completed under national energy schemes and (d) trainees under national energy schemes.
Mr. Wakeham : Figures in the detail sought by the hon. Member for neighbourhood energy action schemes in the United Kingdom are not available for the period requested. The following table gives the aggregated data that is available in respect of the calendar years to the end of 1988 :
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f
|1983 |1984 |1985 |1986 |1987 |1988
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of operating projects at
year end |69 |85 |162 |360 |427 |235
Number of draughtproofing jobs
completed in year |<1>25,715|39,915 |67,808 |123,621 |162,631 |164,749
Number of participant workers/
trainees at year end |n/a |932 |1,630 |1,767 |2,027 |n/a
n/a-Not available.
<1>1980-83 inclusive.
The number of loft insulation jobs completed under the homes insulation scheme is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment.
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will give for the latest available quarter, and for the same quarter in the previous year, for each metropolitan county and each non-metropolitan county and Greater London, the number of (a) neighbourhood energy action schemes, (b) draughtproofing jobs completed under
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neighbourhood energy action schemes, (c) loft insulation jobs completed under neighbourhood energy action schemes and (d) trainees under neighbourhood energy action schemes.Mr. Wakeham : Information on a county by county basis could only be made available at disproportionate cost. However, provisional information on a regional basis is available as follows in respect of community insulation projects co-ordinated by Neighbourhood Energy Action.
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July to September 1989 (figures in brackets relate to July to September 1988)
|Number of schemes- |Number of draught- |Number of loft |Number of trainees-
|projects |proofing jobs |insulation jobs |participant workers
|completed |completed
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
East Midlands |28(35) |2,313(2,594) |10 (48) |271 (520)
London |12(33) |288 (497) |5 (40) |31 (610)
North East |18(26) |2,307(3,475) |48 (96) |253 (508)
North West |45(55) |5,005(6,350) |43 (44) |672(1,240)
Scotland |71(73) |8,455(3,559) |384(574) |755(1,122)
South East |23(48) |946(1,421) |26 (47) |121 (523)
South West |16(29) |802(2,049) |83(183) |190 (461)
Wales |35(46) |3,201(2,658) |64 (42) |338(1,001)
West Midlands |26(56) |2,458(4,393) |51(336) |314 (875)
Yorkshire and
Humberside |24(36) |3,331(5,182) |76(180) |351 (724)
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will place in the Library the official report on neighbourhood energy action schemes.
Mr. Wakeham : It is not entirely clear to what the question refers. However, it may refer to a recent report produced by Neighbourhood Energy Action for its own purposes entitled "Energy Efficiency and Employment Training--One Year On". That report is publicly available from NEA, which I have asked to send a copy to the hon. Member.
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Pit Closures
Mr. Malcolm Bruce : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many pits have been closed since 1979 ; and what were the total estimated reserves in them at time of closure.
Mr. Michael Spicer : For a list of pit closures for the period concerned I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Rother Valley (Mr. Barron) on 29 November at cols 254-55. I have asked the chairman of British Coal to write to the hon. Member about the total estimated reserves in the pits concerned.
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Emissions
Dr. Kim Howells : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) how many tonnes extra of carbon dioxide emissions will be produced by United Kingdom power stations, using the generating plant and capacity currently in place, by an average growth rate of 2.5 per cent. in gross domestic product in 1989-90, 1990-91 and 1991-92 ; (2) how many tonnes extra of sulphur dioxide emissions will be produced by United Kingdom power stations, using the generating plant and capacity currently in place, by an average growth rate of 2.5 per cent. in gross domestic product in 1989-90, 1990-91 and 1991-92. (3) what will be the growth in percentage terms of carbon dioxide emissions from United Kingdom power stations, using the generating plant and capacity currently in place, by an average growth rate of 2.5 per cent. in gross domestic product in 1989-90, 1990-91 and 1991-92 ;
(4) what will be the growth, in percentage terms, of sulphur dioxide emissions from United Kingdom power stations, using the generating plant and capacity currently in place by an average growth rate of 2.5 per cent. in gross domestic product in 1989-90, 1990-91 and 1991-92.
Mr. Michael Spicer : Future levels of emissions will depend on the nature of the plant mix employed to meet the demand for electricity and the shape of the associated load curve. There is no straightforward link between growth in gross domestic product and electricity demand.
TRANSPORT
European Environmental Agency
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what categories of information he will exclude from deposition with the proposed European environmental agency.
Mr. Atkins : It will be for the agency to request information from member states. Until we have received such requests it is impossible to say whether we can meet them.
Railways
Mr. Cummings : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what funds he intends to make available to British Rail to enable the recommendations arising from the Clapham disaster to be carried out on the east coast line.
Mr. Portillo : I refer the hon. Member to the reply to the hon. Member for Southwark and Bermondsey (Mr. Hughes) on 4 December at column 88. As my right hon. Friend has told the House, finance will not stand in the way of implementing the report.
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list British Rail lines in Wales closed to passengers in each year since 1979 ; what discussions he has had with British Rail about the lines which could be reopened for the use of passenger services ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Portillo : British Rail was given consent to close the Vale of Rheidol line last March. This railway is a narrow gauge steam railway which was operated principally for
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tourists. The line was sold to Brecon Mountain Railway Ltd. and has continued to operate to a similar timetable. No other BR line in Wales has been closed since 1979.Vehicle Noise
Mr. Boswell : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give the average noise emitted by (a) a private car, and (b) a heavy goods vehicle proceeding at their respective national motorway speed limits ; and by how much these increase as a result of infractions of the speed limit by (i) 10 mph and (ii) 20 mph respectively.
Mr. Atkins : Assuming a high speed road in good condition, the following are the estimated average noise levels received at a point 7.5 metres from the centre of the vehicle and 1.2 metres above the ground.
Average noise levels dB(A) at vehicle speeds
Vehicle type |60 mph |70 mph |80 mph |90 mph
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Private car |83 |85 |87 |89
Heavy goods |90 |92 |93 |95
Coastguard Service
Mr. Speller : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his reply of 27 November, Official Report, column 82, if he will list the primary, secondary and third 999 telephone routes to the south west coastguard from North Devon.
Mr. McLoughlin : The routing of 999 calls is a matter for British Telecom.
Mr. Speller : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his reply of 27 November, Official Report, column 82, if he will cause inquiries to be made into whether the 999 call indicated as having been misrouted was made to Milford Haven because Swansea coastguard was not available or did not answer the original 999 call.
Mr. McLoughlin : British Telecom has already, at the request of Her Majesty's Coastguard carried out an investigation into the misrouted call. Its finding is that the call was routed to Milford Haven due to a technical fault on the Swansea line, the operator automatically re-routing the call in accordance with standard procedures.
Mr. Speller : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether, in circumstances when the primary coastguard is not available on a 999 call, the secondary station contacted has a firm procedure for reporting back to the primary station or takes control of the incident ; and if he will make a statement with regard to the incident on 15 August in which a youth drowned in Rapperee cove, Ilfracombe.
Mr. McLoughlin : It is standard procedure within Her Majesty's Coastguard that any station receiving an indication of a distress situation, by whatever means the information is received, will, if the incident is not within its area of responsibility, pass the information by the most expedient means to the appropriate station for action. In the incident on 16 August, Milford Haven coastguard, having received a 999 telephone call indicating distress, not within its area, passed the information firstly by VHF radio, and subsequently by telex, to Swansea coastguard.
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European Council
Mr. Sheerman : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether matters relating to road safety were discussed at the recent meeting of the European Council of Transport Ministers ; and what conclusions were reached.
Mr. Portillo : At the meeting I made clear our continuing commitment to road safety and to effective methods of reducing casualties. The presidency concluded the discussion of road safety by asking the committee of permanent representatives to draw up a list of further proposals which the Council might pursue, such as the development of standards for fitting seat belts. We believe that there are real opportunities to cut road casualties by better and safer vehicle design.
Motoring Organisations
Mr. Matthew Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many meetings he and his predecessor had over the last year with the British Road Federation and other motoring organisations.
Mr. Atkins : We have met various road user organisations on a number of occasions over the past 12 months to discuss matters of mutual interest.
A47, Leicestershire
Sir John Farr : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he proposes to establish a pedestrian crossing on the A47 Uppingham road at Thurnby, Leicestershire.
Mr. Atkins : The Department has decided to change the traffic signals at the junction of the A47 Uppingham road and Station road, Thurnby, to include pedestrian facilities.
The work will be carried out as soon as new control equipment can be manufactured, which is expected to take four to six months.
ENVIRONMENT
Housing Co-operatives
Mr. George Howarth : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, further to his reply of 4 December concerning circular HC31/88, if he will relax the criteria for housing co-operatives, which at present are outside the scope of the criteria in the circular ; and if he will make a statement.
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