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Mr. Michael Spicer : My right hon. Friend has met the chairman- designate of Nuclear Electric on a number of occasions to discuss aspects of the nuclear industry.
Private Mines
Dr. Woodcock : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will direct British Coal not to seek to contract to purchase any additional production from private deep mines and opencast sites.
Mr. Michael Spicer : No. However, the British Coal Corporation's statement on licensing policy and practice, placed in the House of Commons Library on 29 June ( Official Report columns 509-10 refers), makes it clear that they would support the efforts of licensees to secure contracts with third parties. It also emphasises that it is for the licensee to determine whether to sell coal to third parties or to British Coal, and that the licence is issued free from any delivery requirement (para 15 and annex B of the statement). The Government welcome this freedom for
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licensed operators, and consider it important that it should apply equally to the larger licensed mines proposed in the Coal Industry Bill.Dr. Woodcock : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will review the royalty paid by private mine operators to British Coal on each tonne of coal produced.
Mr. Michael Spicer : Royalties are a matter for the British Coal Corporation, as owner and licensee of coal reserves. In its recent statement of licensing policy and practice, a copy of which was placed in the Library of the House on 29 June, British Coal has reaffirmed its intention to set royalties at levels which will permit efficiently-managed operators to develop their businesses profitably, and to continue to review standard levels of royalty from time to time in accordance with this principle. It has assured me that in setting the standard levels of royalties it will include the general health of the licensed sector in the matters taken into account. I am continuing to discuss with British Coal methods of monitoring the profitability of the licensed sector.
British Coal has also undertaken to reduce royalties for new licences in any case where accounting evidence is provided which demonstrates that profit expectations would otherwise be cut to unreasonably low levels. I do not believe that it is in the national interest that otherwise economic small coal deposits capable of competing with imports should be left unworked because of a high royalty.
National Fuel Distributors
Dr. Woodcock : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will direct British Coal to ensure that any sale of National Fuel Distributors by British Coal will be on the open market and that all interested parties will have opportunities to submit bids.
Mr. Michael Spicer : This is a commercial matter for British Coal. However, I expect the Corporation to seek to maximise the proceeds from any asset disposals, consistent with the need to ensure that the purchaser does not acquire an unduly dominant position in the coal distribution sector.
Concessionary Coal
Dr. Woodcock : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will direct British Coal to put the distribution of concessionary fuel out to open tender.
Mr. Michael Spicer : The Government expects the British Coal Corporation to organise, whether through its subsidiary, National Fuel Distributors Ltd, or through other channels, the distribution of concessionary fuel in as cost-effective manner as possible. Where the distribution is handled by British Coal and its subsidiaries, it is for them to decide what degree of competitive tendering is appropriate to achieve this, in the light of competition legislation.
Coal Distributive Trades
Dr. Woodcock : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will refer the relationship between British Coal and the coal distributive trades to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission.
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Mr. Michael Spicer : References to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, or the Director General of Fair Trading.
Solid Fuel
Dr. Woodcock : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will take steps to increase competition in the distribution of solid fuel.
Mr. Michael Spicer : Although I monitor developments in the solid fuel distribution sector, questions relating to competition are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and the European Commission.
We have, however, made it clear that further acquisitions by British Coal, or its wholly owned subsidiaries, of businesses valued at over £0.5 million, where my approval is required, are likely to gain my consent only in exceptional circumstances. British Coal have also given assurances that trading between them and British Fuels Ltd. will continue to be on an arm's length basis.
British Coal (Loyalty Agreements)
Dr. Woodcock : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will direct British Coal to bring its loyalty agreements into line with general agreement on tariffs and trade regulations.
Mr. Michael Spicer : I believe that restricting competition from coal imports by discriminatory pricing arrangements is not in the best interests of the consumer. Questions relating to the GATT are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.
Piper Alpha
Mr. Martin : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will place in the Library a list of all accidents to personnel on oil rigs since the Piper Alpha tragedy.
Mr. Peter Morrison : I have today placed in the Library a list of fatal and serious accidents on offshore installations which were notified to my Department under the Offshore Installations (Inspectors and Casualties) Regulations 1973 during the period from 6 July 1988 to 3 December 1989. A further 774 incidents involving less serious injuries resulting in an absence from work for a continuous period of three days were also notified to my Department. On 3 December 1989 there were 141 fixed and 71 mobile installations operating on the United Kingdom continental shelf. The latest figures for the number of persons emplpoyed offshore are those for June 1988 when the Inland Revenue estimated that the total workforce was 29, 300. The serious accident rate per 1,000 employees was 2.9 in 1988 and is 2.3 for the period from 1 January to 3 December 1989.
Energy Efficiency
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy, pursuant to his reply of 4 December, Official Report, column 30, to the hon. Member for Devon, North (Mr. Speller), what assessment has he made of the reasons for the decline in the demand for domestic energy efficiency equipment during the past year.
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Mr. Peter Morrison : The Building Energy Efficiency Confederation wrote on 13 November to say that there was a decline in the sales of domestic energy efficiency equipment of between 6 per cent. and 20 per cent. during the first six months of 1989.I replied recognising the concern of members of the confederation, but explaining that they should be aware that the Government's economic policies aimed at bringing down inflation have similarly affected other market sectors and that the confederation was not, therefore, in a unique situation.
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement about the Energy Efficiency Office's findings about the alleged unproven cost-effectiveness of energy efficiency promotional activities directed at householders.
Mr. Wakeham : Surveys and other information have shown that the EEO's television and press advertising has had a good initial impact as regards bringing energy efficiency to the attention of householders, but that in many cases they have not gone on to implement energy efficiency measures. Market research has confirmed that those moving and improving their homes are significantly more likely to implement energy efficiency measures, and hence the EEO is targeting these groups, as well as low income households, as part of its total strategy of improving energy efficiency.
Opencast Mining (Exhibition)
Mr. Dover : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if his Department has considered an application for an exhibition relating to opencast coal mining to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall.
Mr. Michael Spicer : I understand that under procedures agreed by the Services Committee arrangements have been made with the authorities of the House for the exhibition to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall starting on 29 January for four days.
Home Insulation
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many low- income homes will be insulated in the current financial year.
Mr. Wakeham : For the current financial year as a whole I would expect to see not less than 140,000 homes benefit from the services provided by community insulation projects.
Energy Audits
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will introduce legislation to require building societies to undertake energy audits for mortgage applicants.
Mr. Wakeham : No. The Government believe that a voluntary approach to energy audits is the right way forward, and has already taken an initiative with the building societies to that end.
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Standing Charges
Mr. Kirkwood : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) if he will withdraw the legal powers available to the new electricity companies to charge standing charges to pensioners on income support and families in receipt of family credit ;
(2) if he will now commission an independent review of electricity standing charges and poor consumers ;
(3) if he will now seek the necessary legislative changes to abolish standing charges for the supply of domestic electricity for pensioners and claimants of family credit ;
(4) what percentage of electricity sales revenue is currently derived from standing charges to domestic consumers ; and what estimate has been made of any change to the proportion of sales revenue so devised in future ;
(5) whether any research has been undertaken to study the financial impact of standing charges for electricity to pensioners and claimants on low incomes and benefit.
Mr. Michael Spicer : The question of standing charges has been considered by successive Governments. They have consistently taken the view that standing charges are the fairest means of recovering the costs attributable to each consumer. The social security system provides effective means of targeting assistance on those in need. The percentage of revenue represented by standing charges in 1988 was 6.5 per cent. of total sales revenue from domestic, industrial and other users. Forward estimating of revenue is a matter for the electricity industry.
Powers to include standing charges in electricity tariffs are set out in Section 18 of the Electricity Act 1989. I have no intention of seeking to change these powers.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Secure Office Automation Project
Mr. Devlin : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what system he proposes to instal by way of the secure office automation project in the diplomatic wing by way of replacement for FOLIOS.
Mr. Sainsbury : An independent review of the FOLIOS project is underway to determine the reasons for its failure. No replacement secure office automation system for the diplomatic wing will be proposed until the review report has been considered.
The diplomatic wing of the FCO is currently reviewing its strategy for the delivery of information systems.
Berlin
Mr. Thurnham : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the conference held between ambassadors of the four occupying powers of Berlin on 11 December 1989.
Mr. Maude : At Soviet suggestion, the three western ambassadors met the Soviet ambassador on 11 December. Discussion focussed on western proposals, originally presented to the Russians in 1987, for a package of improvements for Berlin. The Soviet ambassador made some more general remarks about developments in Europe. All parties agreed on the importance of stability.
Column 309
Poland
Mr. Butler : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on current United Kingdom relations with Poland.
Mr. Waldegrave : We have close and friendly relations with Poland. We were delighted to welcome Mr. Lech Walesa, chairman of Solidarity, to the United Kingdom recently. We admire the courage with which the Polish Government are tackling their economic problems and will continue to give substantial help to ease the transition to democracy and a market-based economy.
South Africa
Mr. Canavan : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent communications he has had with the Government of South Africa ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Waldegrave : We maintain regular contact with the South African authorities on a wide range of issues, both here and via Her Majesty's ambassador.
Vietnamese Boat People
Mr. Alton : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Vietnamese authorities on the circumstances in which jobs and education can be obtained without identity papers in Vietnam.
Mr. Maude : No representation has been made to the Vietnamese on this subject.
United Nations General Assembly
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what resolutions on (a) arms control and disarmament, (b) environmental improvement and protection and (c) energy security and resources have been tabled at the latest general assembly of the United Nations in New York ; how the United Kingdom voted on each resolution ; and if he will set out the reason for the vote in each case.
Mr. Sainsbury : I shall write to the hon. Member.
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what resolutions on arms control and disarmament were tabled by the United Kingdom at the latest United Nations General Assembly in New York ; and what support they received.
Mr. Waldegrave : The United Kingdom tabled two resolutions on arms control and disarmament at the First Committee of the United Nations General Assembly in 1989 :
(i) On "Objective Information on Military Matters" (designed to encourage the disclosure of more information about military capabilities and budgets). This resolution was supported by 132 countries ; no countries voted against ; and 13 abstained. (
(ii) On "Bilateral negotiations" (welcoming progress made in bilateral arms control talks in 1989 and calling for sustained progress in the year ahead) ; 91 countries voted for the resolution ; no countries voted against ; and 61 abstained.
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Hong Kong
Dame Elaine Kellett-Bowman : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many people have been refused entry to Hong Kong from the Chinese land border annually for each of the past five years ; and what was the daily average figure.
Mr. Maude : The number of people refused entry into Hong Kong from the Chinese land border for each of the past five years is as follows :
Year |Total |Daily average -------------------------------------------------------- 1984 |9,653 |26.5 1985 |13,882 |38 1986 |18,045 |49.4 1987 |23,969 |65.7 1988 |15,935 |43.7 1989<1> |7,096 |21.2 <1> January-November.
Dame Elaine Kellett-Bowman : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many people were resident in Hong Kong in (a) 1960 and (b) 1989, or the latest available date.
Mr. Maude : The estimated population of Hong Kong in mid-1960 was 3,075,300. In mid-1989 it was 5,713,700.
St. Helena
Dr. Marek : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the rate of unemployment benefit in St. Helena, what is its purchasing power ; and what are the equivalent figures for the United Kingdom.
Mr. Sainsbury : The weekly rates of unemployment benefit in St. Helena are £14.60 for a married couple and £10.90 for a single person. In addition, claimants receive 75 per cent. rent rebate and a weekly allowance in respect of each dependent child ; the rates are £1.55 for a child aged 10 or less, and £1.95 for a child aged 11 or over. The basic weekly income of a labourer in the public sector is £36.95.
The weekly rate of unemployment benefit in the United Kingdom for a single person is £34.70. A married person, who also claims successfully for their spouse, receives an additional £21.40 per week. The average gross weekly income of all adults in full-time employment is £239.70.
Public Appointments
Mrs. Roe : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many persons above the age of (a) 60, (b) 65 and (c) 70 years he has appointed to public bodies in each of the last 10 years.
Mr. Sainsbury [pursuant to the reply, 6 December 1989, c. 233 ] : I am unable to provide the full information requested by the hon. Member, as the figures are not held centrally and could not be assembled without disproportionate cost. I can state, however, that we are aware of 38 persons over the age of 60 having been appointed by my right hon. Friend.
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WALES
Health and Personal Social Services (Expenditure)
Mr. Robin Cook : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give for Wales for each year since 1974-75 (i) total National Health Service expenditure, (ii) current expenditure on the hospital and community health services, (iii) capital expenditure on the hospital and community health services, (iv) expenditure on the family practitioner services, (v) expenditure on centrally funded National Health Service services and (vi) expenditure on personal social services, giving each in (a) cash terms, (b) adjusted using the relevant pay and prices index and (c) adjusted using the gross domestic product deflator ; and if he will place in the Library details of the methods used to make these adjustments.
Mr. Grist : The information requested is set out in the tables. Separate pay and prices indices for Wales are not avaivable, and the information shown has thus been constructed by reference to indices maintained by the Department of Health from English data.
(vi) Personal social services: gross expenditureat
1988-89 prices
Year |£ million cash|Adjusted by |Adjusted by
|the relevant |the GDP
|pay and |deflator
|prices index
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
1974-75 |37.1 |142.6 |146.5
1975-76 |50.4 |160.9 |158.3
1976-77 |57.9 |163.2 |160.4
1977-78 |63.0 |162.0 |153.4
1978-79 |76.9 |182.6 |169.1
1979-80 |92.7 |186.6 |174.6
1980-81 |111.6 |186.9 |177.6
1981-82 |120.3 |179.2 |174.3
1982-83 |131.3 |182.5 |177.5
1983-84 |143.5 |189.4 |185.3
1984-85 |147.8 |187.4 |181.8
1985-86 |155.9 |187.2 |182.0
1986-87 |169.9 |194.7 |191.9
1987-88 |185.8 |198.2 |199.3
1988-89 |202.0 |202.0 |202.0
(vi) Personal social services: gross expenditureat
1988-89 prices
Year |£ million cash|Adjusted by |Adjusted by
|the relevant |the GDP
|pay and |deflator
|prices index
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
1974-75 |37.1 |142.6 |146.5
1975-76 |50.4 |160.9 |158.3
1976-77 |57.9 |163.2 |160.4
1977-78 |63.0 |162.0 |153.4
1978-79 |76.9 |182.6 |169.1
1979-80 |92.7 |186.6 |174.6
1980-81 |111.6 |186.9 |177.6
1981-82 |120.3 |179.2 |174.3
1982-83 |131.3 |182.5 |177.5
1983-84 |143.5 |189.4 |185.3
1984-85 |147.8 |187.4 |181.8
1985-86 |155.9 |187.2 |182.0
1986-87 |169.9 |194.7 |191.9
1987-88 |185.8 |198.2 |199.3
1988-89 |202.0 |202.0 |202.0
Column 312
(vi) Personal social services: gross expenditureat
1988-89 prices
Year |£ million cash|Adjusted by |Adjusted by
|the relevant |the GDP
|pay and |deflator
|prices index
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
1974-75 |37.1 |142.6 |146.5
1975-76 |50.4 |160.9 |158.3
1976-77 |57.9 |163.2 |160.4
1977-78 |63.0 |162.0 |153.4
1978-79 |76.9 |182.6 |169.1
1979-80 |92.7 |186.6 |174.6
1980-81 |111.6 |186.9 |177.6
1981-82 |120.3 |179.2 |174.3
1982-83 |131.3 |182.5 |177.5
1983-84 |143.5 |189.4 |185.3
1984-85 |147.8 |187.4 |181.8
1985-86 |155.9 |187.2 |182.0
1986-87 |169.9 |194.7 |191.9
1987-88 |185.8 |198.2 |199.3
1988-89 |202.0 |202.0 |202.0
(vi) Personal social services: gross expenditureat
1988-89 prices
Year |£ million cash|Adjusted by |Adjusted by
|the relevant |the GDP
|pay and |deflator
|prices index
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
1974-75 |37.1 |142.6 |146.5
1975-76 |50.4 |160.9 |158.3
1976-77 |57.9 |163.2 |160.4
1977-78 |63.0 |162.0 |153.4
1978-79 |76.9 |182.6 |169.1
1979-80 |92.7 |186.6 |174.6
1980-81 |111.6 |186.9 |177.6
1981-82 |120.3 |179.2 |174.3
1982-83 |131.3 |182.5 |177.5
1983-84 |143.5 |189.4 |185.3
1984-85 |147.8 |187.4 |181.8
1985-86 |155.9 |187.2 |182.0
1986-87 |169.9 |194.7 |191.9
1987-88 |185.8 |198.2 |199.3
1988-89 |202.0 |202.0 |202.0
Column 313
(vi) Personal social services: gross expenditureat
1988-89 prices
Year |£ million cash|Adjusted by |Adjusted by
|the relevant |the GDP
|pay and |deflator
|prices index
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
1974-75 |37.1 |142.6 |146.5
1975-76 |50.4 |160.9 |158.3
1976-77 |57.9 |163.2 |160.4
1977-78 |63.0 |162.0 |153.4
1978-79 |76.9 |182.6 |169.1
1979-80 |92.7 |186.6 |174.6
1980-81 |111.6 |186.9 |177.6
1981-82 |120.3 |179.2 |174.3
1982-83 |131.3 |182.5 |177.5
1983-84 |143.5 |189.4 |185.3
1984-85 |147.8 |187.4 |181.8
1985-86 |155.9 |187.2 |182.0
1986-87 |169.9 |194.7 |191.9
1987-88 |185.8 |198.2 |199.3
1988-89 |202.0 |202.0 |202.0
(vi) Personal social services: gross expenditureat
1988-89 prices
Year |£ million cash|Adjusted by |Adjusted by
|the relevant |the GDP
|pay and |deflator
|prices index
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
1974-75 |37.1 |142.6 |146.5
1975-76 |50.4 |160.9 |158.3
1976-77 |57.9 |163.2 |160.4
1977-78 |63.0 |162.0 |153.4
1978-79 |76.9 |182.6 |169.1
1979-80 |92.7 |186.6 |174.6
1980-81 |111.6 |186.9 |177.6
1981-82 |120.3 |179.2 |174.3
1982-83 |131.3 |182.5 |177.5
1983-84 |143.5 |189.4 |185.3
1984-85 |147.8 |187.4 |181.8
1985-86 |155.9 |187.2 |182.0
1986-87 |169.9 |194.7 |191.9
1987-88 |185.8 |198.2 |199.3
1988-89 |202.0 |202.0 |202.0
Local Government Finance
Mr. Murphy : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list for each charging authority area, attributing grant income received by precepting authorities under the current grant system to each area in proportion to the adult population in that area (a) the rate support grant payable for 1989-90 uprated to 1990-91 prices and (b) the estimated amount of revenue support grant which would be payable in 1990-91.
Mr. Peter Walker : The information requested is shown in the following table :
Charging authority |<1>Rate support grant|<2>Revenue support
|payable for 1989-90 |grant payable for
|(1990-91 prices) |1990-91
|£ million |£ million
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alyn and Deeside |23.885 |25.348
Colwyn |18.929 |20.065
Delyn |23.006 |22.666
Glyndwr |14.215 |14.621
Rhuddlan |21.051 |20.435
Wrexham Maelor |39.269 |40.865
Carmarthen |22.857 |22.147
Ceredigion |28.143 |25.368
Dinefwr |15.659 |14.984
Llanelli |31.044 |30.472
Preseli Pembrokeshire 28.700 27.469
South Pembrokeshire |16.130 |17.157
Blaenau Gwent |31.660 |31.072
Islwyn |26.262 |25.923
Monmouth |27.649 |27.948
Newport |45.760 |52.197
Torfaen |32.679 |34.306
Aberconwy |20.426 |21.234
Arfon |19.852 |22.003
Dwyfor |11.153 |12.818
Meirionnydd |12.449 |14.924
Ynys Mon |25.938 |26.652
Cynon Valley |31.451 |29.075
Merthyr Tydfil |28.540 |26.346
Ogwr |61.952 |57.759
Rhondda |39.768 |36.703
Rhymney Valley |47.374 |42.393
Taff Ely |41.285 |39.218
Brecknock |20.434 |19.269
Montgomeryshire |24.951 |23.942
Radnorshire |11.143 |10.581
Cardiff |89.793 |114.679
Vale of Glamorgan |34.121 |43.629
Port Talbot |18.254 |21.356
Lliw Valley |22.690 |23.805
Neath |22.240 |25.975
Swansea |69.995 |74.512
All Welsh charging authorities |1,100.708 |1,139.918
<1> 1989-90 figures are expressed in real terms at 1990-91 prices using the GDP (market prices)
deflator.
<2> The 1990-91 revenue support grant entitlements of county councils have been attributed to
districts within each area in proportion to numbers of community charge payers on registers at 1
December 1989.
Mr. Murphy : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list for each charging authority area, attributing business rate income received by precepting authorities under the current system to each area in proportion to the adult population in each area (a) the estimated revenue received in 1989-90 from the non-domestic rate uprated to 1990-91 prices and (b) the estimated amount which will be paid from the national non- domestic rating pool in 1990-91 to each area.
Mr. Peter Walker : The information requested is shown in the following table :
Charging authority |<1>Estimated revenue|Amount to be paid
|received in 1989-90 |from the non-
|from non-domestic |domestic rating pool
|rates (1990-91 |in 1990-91
|prices) £ million |(£ million)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alyn and Deeside |13.426 |11.634
Colwyn |6.120 |8.823
Delyn |7.190 |10.332
Glyndwr |4.704 |6.925
Rhuddlan |8.376 |8.687
Wrexham Maelor |19.026 |18.160
Carmarthen |6.031 |8.837
Ceredigion |6.776 |9.980
Dinefwr |2.990 |6.129
Llanelli |9.199 |11.778
Preseli
Pembrokeshire |10.487 |11.218
South Pembrokeshire |15.042 |6.612
Blaenau Gwent |7.953 |11.998
Islwyn |5.542 |10.637
Monmouth |10.684 |12.359
Newport |32.135 |20.507
Torfaen |13.549 |13.880
Aberconwy |7.233 |8.547
Arfon |12.185 |8.484
Dwyfor |3.448 |4.724
Meirionnydd |6.658 |5.775
Ynys Mon |11.485 |10.235
Cynon Valley |6.753 |10.363
Merthyr Tydfil |7.820 |8.935
Ogwr |15.616 |21.066
Rhondda |5.462 |12.312
Rhymney Valley |10.654 |15.697
Taff Ely |16.051 |14.178
Brecknock |4.662 |6.865
Montgomeryshire |5.942 |8.428
Radnorshire |3.232 |3.790
Cardiff |54.257 |42.417
Vale of Glamorgan |18.644 |16.891
Port Talbot |17.974 |8.081
Lliw Valley |6.712 |9.544
Neath |10.113 |10.305
Swansea |33.350 |27.867
|----- |-----
All Welsh charging authorities |437.479 |443.000
1989-90 figures have been expressed in real terms at 1990-91 prices using the GDP (market prices) deflator.
Mr. Murphy : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list for each charging authority area, attributing grant income received by precepting authorities under the current grant system to each area in proportion to the aggregate of rateable values in that area (a) the rate support grant payable for 1989-90 uprated to 1990-91 prices, (b) the estimated amount of revenue support grant which will be payable in 1990-91 with safety nets and special grants and (c) the estimated amount of revenue support grant which would be payable in 1990-91.
Mr. Peter Walker : The information requested for (a) and (c) is shown in the table. I am no longer proposing to make safety-net adjustments to revenue support grant entitlements and I will announce the final amounts of transitional relief grant payable to each district area for 1990-91 in due course.
Charging authority |<1>Rate support grant |<2>Revenue support
|payable for 1989-90 |grant payable for
|(1990-91 prices) |1990-91
|£ million |£ million
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alyn and Deeside |27.346 |25.348
Colwyn |18.007 |20.065
Delyn |21.730 |22.666
Glyndwr |12.368 |14.621
Rhuddlan |21.622 |20.435
Wrexham Maelor |39.281 |40.865
Carmarthen |19.507 |22.147
Ceredigion |24.823 |25.368
Dinefwr |11.256 |14.984
Llanelli |28.144 |30.472
Preseli
Pembrokeshire |30.238 |27.469
South Pembrokeshire |28.565 |17.157
Blaenau Gwent |24.935 |31.072
Islwyn |19.521 |25.923
Monmouth |25.963 |27.948
Newport |62.569 |52.197
Torfaen |31.020 |34.306
Aberconwy |18.924 |21.234
Arfon |21.367 |22.003
Dwyfor |9.976 |12.818
Meirionnydd |13.880 |14.924
Ynys Mon |25.672 |26.652
Cynon Valley |28.815 |29.075
Merthyr Tydfil |29.687 |26.346
Ogwr |64.967 |57.759
Rhondda |29.311 |36.703
Rhymney Valley |46.127 |42.393
Taff Ely |51.463 |39.218
Brecknock |19.492 |19.269
Montgomeryshire |24.668 |23.942
Radnorshire |12.347 |10.581
Cardiff |92.712 |114.679
Vale of Glamorgan |31.203 |43.629
Port Talbot |26.638 |21.356
Lliw Valley |17.286 |23.805
Neath |20.097 |25.975
Swansea |69.159 |74.512
|---------- |----------
All Welsh charging authorities |1,100.708 |1,139.918
Natural Heritage
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales why he decided not to issue a consultation document in respect of his proposed merger of the Nature Conservancy Council and Countryside Commission in Wales.
Mr. Wyn Roberts : The requirement to introduce legislation at the earliest opportunity to give effect to Ministers' announced intentions precluded the possibility of formal consultation. Nevertheless, interested parties have been encouraged to submit their views on how the changes might be implemented and these are being considered.
Grants
Mr. Thornton : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will provide estimates showing for each financial year from 1987-88 to 1990-91 the amount of actual or planned expenditure on (a) derelict land grant, (b) regional selective assistance, (c) the Welsh Development Agency, (d) the Cardiff Bay Development Agency and (e) the urban programme.
Mr. Peter Walker : The information is shown in the following table :
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£ million
|1987-88 |1988-89 |1989-90 |1990-91 Plans
|Outturn |Outturn |Estimated
|Outturn
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regional selective assistance (gross) |35 |43 |53 |67
Welsh Development Agency (gross) |99 |115 |130 |150
of which: derelict land |13 |12 |24 |24
Cardiff Bay development corporation |12 |18 |29 |32
Urban programme |20 |<1>21 |26 |29
Teachers
Mr. Cartwright : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many teachers are employed by each local authority in Wales ; how many teachers are in receipt of an incentive allowance for each local authority in Wales ; what
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percentage this is of the total employed by each local authority ; and how many teachers in receipt of an incentive allowance in each local authority in Wales hold allowances that are (a) incentive A, (b) incentive B, (c) incentive C, (d) incentive D and (e) incentive E.Column 317
Mr. Wyn Roberts : The latest information, based on the position at March 1988 is shown in the table :Column 317
Incentive Allowances
|Number of |Total |Total
|teachers<1>|A |B |C |D |E |(number) |(per cent.)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Clwyd |2,774 |123 |748 |21 |269 |95 |1,256 |45.3
Dyfed |2,561 |48 |643 |18 |193 |21 |923 |36.0
Gwent |3,313 |171 |664 |84 |223 |93 |1,235 |37.3
Gwynedd |1,795 |72 |409 |6 |103 |26 |616 |34.3
Mid Glamorgan |4,439 |6 |963 |3 |234 |122 |1,328 |29.9
Powys |913 |51 |200 |1 |40 |10 |302 |33.1
South Glamorgan |2,836 |162 |617 |11 |217 |74 |1,081 |38.1
West Glamorgan |2,903 |159 |697 |23 |179 |58 |1,116 |38.4
|------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |-------
Wales |21,534 |792 |4,941 |167 |1,458 |499 |7,857 |36.5
<1> The number of teachers shown excludes headteachers and deputy headteachers but includes teachers in special schools.
School Premises
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what action he has taken to ensure that all schools in Wales will meet the standards laid down in the Education (School Premises) Regulations 1981 by September 1991 ; and if he will make a statement ; (2) what assessment he has made of the cost of bringing (a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools up to the standards laid down in the Education (School Premises) Reglations 1981 in (i) Wales and (ii) by local education authority ; whether he is making any special arrangements to meet those costs ; and if he will make a statement on progress in meeting the provisional arrangements required by the regulations.
Mr. Wyn Roberts : The duty of ensuring that school premises conform to the standards prescribed by the Education (School Premises) Regulations 1981 rests with local education authorities. Information about the extent of their compliance with the regulations is not held centrally, but we are aware that not all schools yet meet the standards. Local authorities have been aware since 1981 of the requirements of the regulations. It is for them to meet their obligations from within existing resources.
Salmonella
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he proposes to make a statement concerning his inquiry into the Clwyd salmonella outbreak ; if he will publish his inquiry ; if he will meet the Clwyd health authority to discuss his findings ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Grist : As I announced in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Delyn (Mr. Raffan) on 6 November at col. 669 the Department is undertaking an internal review to establish any lessons that could be
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learned for the future. Any such lessons will be conveyed to the authorities concerned and, if appropriate, will be made available more widely.The review is now under way and will be concluded as soon as is consistent with completing the task properly.
The question of a meeting with Clwyd health authority and the other statutory authorities who were involved in the handling of this outbreak can be considered when the review has been concluded.
Local Government Finance
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will assess the number of households in Wales which, on the basis of his assessment of levels of community charge as outlined in his statement of 18 December, will incur (a) an increase of over 50 per cent., (b) an increase of between 25 per cent. and 50 per cent. and (c) an increase of up to 25 per cent. in the total community charge to be paid by each such household in 1990-91 as against the total rate payment of such a household in 1989- 90.
Mr. Peter Walker : This information is not available centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what progress has been made, in each local authority in Wales, in compiling the community charge register for 1990-91 ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Peter Walker : I have now received estimates of the registered population as at 1 December 1989 from each community charge registration officer in Wales. A very high rate of registration has been achieved. The following table shows that estimates of adult population based on the registers are very close for all authorities to the equivalent estimates based on data provided by the registrar general.
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