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Written Answers to Questions
Monday 22 January 1990
TRANSPORT
Radioactive Material
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list for each of the past 10 years, how many tonnes of radioactive material were (a) imported and (b) exported through the ports of (i) Barrow, (ii) Dover, (iii) Felixstowe, (iv) Harwich, (v) Liverpool (vi) Portsmouth, (vii) Southampton and (viii) Workington ; and, in each case, what method of transport was used to convey the material to or from the port.
Mr. McLoughlin : The Department does not collect this information, and it could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list by year for the last 10 years (a) the sources and (b) the destinations, of radioactive material (i) imported and (ii) exported through the port of Immingham-Hull.
Mr. McLoughlin : The Department does not collect this information on a routine basis and it can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Channel Tunnel
Mr. Warren : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will arrange for the publication of the safety requirements of the Channel tunnel design together with the supporting calculations.
Mr. Portillo : I refer my hon. Friend to the answers I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Hyndburn (Mr. Hargreaves) on 15 January, Official Report, column 45, and to my hon. Friend the Member for Hampshire, North-West (Sir D. Mitchell) on 19 December, Official Report, column 195. The general characteristics of the Channel tunnel are specified in the concession agreement (Cmnd 9769). It is for Eurotunnel to prepare detailed designs and submit them for approval by the Channel tunnel intergovernmental commission. On safety matters, the commission is advised by the Channel Tunnel Safety Authority, which has recently published its annual report for 1988-89. I understand that the authority intends to publish further reports in due course. The commission's recent decision on the non-segregation of passengers from their vehicles was accompanied by a number of binding safety requirements.
Light Rapid Transit Systems
Ms. Primarolo : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what is the current amount allocated for the development of light rapid transit systems for the financial year 1990-91, excluding London ;
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(2) what is the amount currently budgeted for allocation for the development of light rapid transit systems for the financial year 1991-92, excluding London.Mr. Portillo : Total provision of about £50 million in 1990-91 and £40 million in 1991-92 has been made for the Manchester Metrolink project. No decisions have yet been taken on resource allocations for any other light rail schemes outside London.
Tamar Estuary Crossing
Mr. Robert Hicks : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he intends announcing details of the proposed study of a second road crossing of the Tamar estuary as outlined in his May 1989 "Roads for Prosperity" strategy ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Atkins: I aim to invite tenders this spring from consultants experienced in this kind of study. I shall make an announcement when an appointment has been made.
A27
Mr. Fearn : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has any plans to construct a road of motorway standard north of the existing A27 in East Sussex.
Mr. Atkins: We have no present plans to do so but we are putting in place a major study into the need for an east-west strategic route running from Kent to Hampshire within a corridor between the M25 and the south coast.
Mr. Fearn : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy not to allow construction to begin on a new roundabout at the junction of the A27 and A26 at Beddingham until such time as a projected route has been announced for the proposed improvements to the A27 between Lewes and Polegate, and a full public consultation period has elapsed.
Mr. Atkins: No. Provision of this roundabout is considered good value for money in the medium term and will not pre-empt consideration of options for improving the A27.
Mr. Fearn : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy not to approve a final route for the A27 Folkington link until such time as a projected route has been announced for the proposed improvements to the A27 between Lewes and Polegate, and a full public consultation period has elapsed.
Mr. Atkins : The issue about which the hon. Member is concerned has been raised by others in the context of public consultation on our Folkington link proposals and will be considered before we decide how the matter should be taken forward. An announcement will be made as soon as possible.
Mr. Fearn : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will provide details of traffic flows along the A27 between (a) Lewes and Beddingham, (b) Beddingham and Alfriston and (c) Alfriston and Polegate for any of the last 15 years for which figures are available ; and if he will indicate the division between HGV and other traffic.
Mr. Atkins : The annual average daily traffic flows for the years 1985 to 1988, for which information is readily available, were as follows. Percentages of heavy goods vehicles are shown in brackets :
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|1985 |1986 |1987 |1988
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Lewes to
Beddingham |17,500 |18,600 |18,800 |20,300
|(8.3 per |(8.3 per |(9.7 per |(9.6 per
|cent.) |cent.) |cent.) |cent.)
Beddingham and
Alfriston |11,600 |12,300 |12,700 |13,200
|(7.5 per |(7.4 per |(6.6 per |(10.3 per
|cent.) |cent.) |cent.) |cent.)
Alfriston and
Polegate |9,400 |10,000 |10,200 |11,000
|(9.2 per |(9.0 per |(7.9 per |(7.8 per
|cent.) |cent.) |cent.) |cent.)
Mr. Fearn : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer in the Official Report, 16 January, column 154, what the possible option identified by East Sussex county council involved with regard to (a) the dualling of the present A27 road, (b) the demolition of houses along the A27 and (c) the construction of a flyover.
Mr. Atkins : It is not our policy to release information from scheme identification studies in advance of public consultation. To do so could be misleading and cause unnecessary planning blight for which there might not be a satisfactory recourse under existing legislation.
Mr. Fearn : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he last corresponded with East Sussex county council in respect of projected improvements to the A27 ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Atkins : There is regular contact between my Department and East Sussex county council about our four major A27--and seven A259--schemes in addition to a number of other schemes in our regional programme.
Rear Seat Belts
Sir Trevor Skeet : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport in which European Community states the installation of rear seat belts is mandatory ; and from what date this took effect in each case.
Mr. Atkins : The table gives the available information on the mandatory fitment of rear seat belts in cars for each European Community member state.
Member state |Rear belt requirement/Date --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Belgium |First registered from January 1987 Denmark |First registered from April 1989 France |First registered from October 1978 Federal Republic of Germany |First registered from May 1987 Greece |None Italy |First registered from April 1990 Ireland |None Luxembourg |First registered from 1988 Netherlands |First registered from January 1990 Portugal |First registered from January 1992 Spain |First registered from October 1990 United Kingdom |First registered from April 1987
Sir Trevor Skeet : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effect on the number of fatalities and injuries occurring in the United Kingdom if rear seat belts were worn in all vehicles.
Mr. Atkins : Our latest estimate is that if all rear seat car passengers wore seat belts, some 200 deaths and 9,000 injuries would be prevented each year.
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Sir Trevor Skeet : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the current position of draft European Community legislation 9228/88 ; and when the wearing of rear seat belts will become mandatory.
Mr. Atkins : Member countries have not yet taken a decision on this Commission proposal. In the United Kingdom it is already mandatory for children to wear available rear restraints where appropriate for their use. In the case of adults we have no plans to introduce mandatory wearing before a sufficient proportion of cars has the equipment fitted as standard.
M40 (Widening)
Sir David Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has considered responses to the environmental statement for the widening of the M40 motorway between High Wycombe and Stokenchurch ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Atkins : We have carefully considered the responses to the environmental statement issued on 15 September 1989 containing proposals for widening the M40 motorway. The Department has made various changes to the design of the scheme, in particular to take account of the interests of the environment in this attractive area. The improvements will make the best use of established planting and minimise the effects on wildlife. "Cut -off" lighting will be used to avoid unnecessary glare away from the highway. We shall be making full use of our discretionary powers to provide noise insulation for residential properties. The Department is about to invite tenders for the work.
EDUCATION AND SCIENCE
Child Abuse
Mr. Cartwright : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has had concerning the proposal by the National Association for Pastoral Care in Education to set up a national standing conference for educational responses to child abuse ; and if he will made a statement.
Mr. Alan Howarth : My right hon. Friend has received no such representations.
Disabled Students' Allowance
Mr. Malcolm Bruce : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to announce new proposals arising from the review of the disabled students' allowance.
Mr. Jackson : My right hon. Friend hopes to announce the outcome of his review of the disabled students' and other supplementary allowances in the spring, in time for any changes in the mandatory awards regulations to take effect from 1 September 1990.
European Parliament Reports
Rev. Martin Smyth : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what has been the response of Her Majesty's Government to resolution A2-327/88 of the European Parliament on genetic engineering known as the
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Rothley report and resolution A2-372/88 of the European Parliament on artificial insemination known as the Casini report.Mr. Jackson : The Government have noted these resolutions, but have not responded.
National Curriculum
Mr. Win Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he has taken to ensure that there are sufficient teachers to teach the national curriculum ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Alan Howarth : I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Cardiff, South and Penarth (Mr. Michael) on 12 December 1989 at column 553.
Medical Research Council
Ms. Primarlo : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has any plans to increase the budget allocation to the Medical Research Council for 1990-91.
Mr. Jackson : My right hon. Friend announced his decision on the science budget allocations for 1990-91 including that for the Medical Research Council in his answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Hexham (Mr. Amos) on 10 January at columns 623-24.
Teachers' Pay
Mr. Nicholas Bennett : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what guidance is given by his Department as to supply teachers' salaries ; whether local education authorities are required to pay supply teachers additional increments in accordance with years of service ; and if he will make a statement.
Mrs. Rumbold : Teachers employed on short-notice contracts are paid for the duration of each contract at the rate the LEA considers appropriate in the light of local needs and circumstances. In circular 12/89 the Department drew local education authorities' attention to the interim advisory committee's views on the dangers of setting a standard low point on the main scale and endorsed the suggestion of the IAC that such teachers should always be offered the opportunity of being involved in other duties as well as teaching pupils.
Learning Difficulties
Mr. Teddy Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many letters he has received from parents of children with special learning difficulties, including dyslexia, on the issue of assessment and provision of statements under the Education Acts ; and how many of these were in respect of children in Essex.
Mr. Alan Howarth : I regret that it is not possible to identify this information from the Department's records.
Alpha-rated Research
Mr. Warren : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what would have been the extra money required by each research council to have funded all the alpha-rated research projects in the financial year 1988-89 ; and how much money was spent by each research council on alpha- rated projects in that financial year.
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Mr. Jackson : The additional amounts that would have been required to fund all alpha-rated research grant applications in the academic year 1988-89 were as follows :
|£ million
-------------------------------------------------------------
Agricultural and Food Research Council |9.1
Medical Research Council |44.5
Natural Environment Research Council |4.6
Science and Engineering Research Council |123.0
Economic and Social Research Council |4.3
|----
|185.5
In the 1988-89 financial year the councils' spend on alpha-rated research projects was as follows :
|£ million
-------------------------------------------------------------
Agricultural and Food Research Council |9.1
Medical Research Council |44.5
Natural Environment Research Council |4.6
Science and Engineering Research Council |123.0
Economic and Social Research Council |4.3
|----
|185.5
Student Loans Company
Mr. Hanley : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress has been made in acquiring premises for the Student Loans Company, and if he will make a statement.
Mr. MacGregor [pursuant to his reply, 22 November 1989, column 5] : The Student Loans Company Limited has reached agreement with landlords on the terms of a lease on premises at 100 Bothwell street in Glasgow. I have been requested by the landlords to guarantee the company's obligations under that lease. I have considered the lease and the terms of the guarantee requested. I have concluded that I should give such a guarantee in accordance with the departmental minute laid before Parliament on 22 November 1989 and have indicated to the Student Loans Company that I will do so.
Mr. Worthington : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when the decision will be taken on the exact location in Glasgow of the headquarters for the Student Loans Company ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Jackson : I refer the hon. Member to the pursuant reply that my right hon. Friend gave today to my hon. Friend the Member for Richmond and Barnes (Mr. Hanley). The headquarters of the Student Loans Company Limited will be at 100 Bothwell street, Glasgow.
ATTORNEY-GENERAL
Social Security
Mr. Fraser : To ask the Attorney-General how many cases were heard by the social security commissioners in the last year for which statistics were available ; how long on average each hearing took ; and on what number of occasions the Department of Social Security and the appellant, respectively, was legally represented.
The Attorney-General : A total of 442 cases were heard by the social security commissioners in 1989. On average, each hearing took 2.25 hours. Statistics on the representation of parties are not kept.
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Legal Aid
Mr. Fraser : To ask the Attorney-General what arrangements will be made to obtain evidence and advice from the solicitors' profession on legal aid, for the purposes of the review of the financial conditions for legal aid announced on 13 November 1989.
The Attorney-General : The solicitors' profession will be consulted as appropriate for information and for its views.
Mr. Fraser : To ask the Attorney-General (1) what is his estimate of the percentage of the population now potentially eligible on income grounds for legal aid for non-matrimonial cases ; what was the equivalent figure obtaining in 1979 and each successive year ; and whether he will place a summary of relevant calculations of the data used in the Library ;
(2) what progress has been made in the study of family expenditure survey data and the conclusions to be drawn from it in relation to eligibility for legal aid since his answer of 20 March 1989, Official Report, column 449 .
The Attorney-General : Estimates indicate that at present about 56 per cent. of the population is eligible on income grounds alone for civil legal aid in non-matrimonial cases. This estimate does not take account of the improvements announced on 13 November 1989, Official Report, column 3 , which will be introduced in April. It was based on data obtained from the family expenditure survey--in relation to income for each household type and deductions for housing costs, tax and national insurance payments and allowances for dependants--grossed up and uprated to current level equivalents through a computer model. Such calculations cannot be made for earlier years except at disproportionate cost.
Legal Advice and Assistance
Mr. Fraser : To ask the Attorney-General whether he will take immediate steps substantially to increase the capital limit of £890 which applies to the legal advice and assistance green form scheme.
The Attorney-General : The capital limit for a single person for legal advice and assistance will be increased to £935 in April.
ENERGY
Nuclear Electricity
Mr. Jack : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he last met the chairman of Nuclear Electric ; and what matters were discussed.
Mr. Baldry : My hon. Friend has met the chairman of Nuclear Electric on a number of occasions to discuss aspects of the nuclear industry.
Electricity Privatisation
Mr. Benn : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will set out those guarantees which were sought by the private sector in regard to nuclear stations in the negotiations over electricity privatisation.
Mr. Baldry : I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to the hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras (Mr. Dobson) on 14 November 1989 at column 139.
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Mr. Benn : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what steps he is taking to ensure that the operational expertise of the electricity supply industry in running its nuclear plants will be retained when the non- nuclear sector of the industry is privatised.
Mr. Baldry : Nuclear Electric will inherit all the CEGB's nuclear- related assets, expertise and support, including its expertise in health and safety. The chairman of Nuclear Electric has stated that safety is a paramount priority of Nuclear Electric.
Sellafield
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what payments have been made by his Department to British Nuclear Fuels plc over the past five years in regard to post-operational decommissioning work on facilities at Sellafield used to carry out contracts for his Department ; what proportion of the work required arose from the pre-1971 period when Sellafield was operated by the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority ; and over what period of time negotiations were entered into over the payments for the work.
Mr. Baldry : None. My Department has no liabilities to British Nuclear Fuels plc for decommissioning.
Energy Policy in the Greenhouse"
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make it his policy to obtain a copy of the recently published study "Energy Policy in the Greenhouse" prepared by the international project for sustainable energy paths.
Mr. Wakeham : My Department already holds a copy of this study.
Waste Tips
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) if he will make it his policy to promote methane extraction for useful energy generation of all controlled waste tips of over 1 million cu m of refuse ;
(2) what is the most up-to-date estimate available to him of the minimum size, measured by cubic metres, of controlled household refuse tips, to sustain viable commercial methane extraction.
Mr. Peter Morrison : As I explained to the hon. Member in answer to his question of 18 January, my Department has a substantial programme to promote exploitation of methane from landfill sites. This work is not limited to sites with more than 1 million cu m of waste capacity. Landfill gas exploitation is being encouraged at all landfill sites containing a large proportion of biodegradable refuse providing such exploitation can be shown to be economic.
The minimum size of landfill sites for viable commercial methane extraction does not depend on volume alone. Factors such as locality of potential users are also important. For example, a small-scale greenhouse scheme could be supported by a site of only a few thousand cubic metres in volume. Hence, it would not be appropriate to suggest a minimum value, in terms of cubic metres of refuse on a landfill site, to sustain a viable extraction project.
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Subsidence (Compensation)
Mr. Andy Stewart : To ask the Scretary of State for Energy when he expects to receive British Coal's second annual report on its administration of the system for subsidence compensation and repair.
Mr. Baldry : I have today placed copies of this report in the Libraries of both Houses.
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list for each local authority district the number of outstanding subsidence claims lodged with British Coal.
Mr. Wakeham : British Coal has no operational need to compile details of subsidence damage claims on a district council basis. Details of claims broken down by British Coal area are contained in British Coal's annual report to the Secretary of State for Energy. As my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary announced today in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Sherwood (Mr. Stewart), copies of the most recent report were today placed in the Libraries of both Houses. The provision of further information is a matter for British Coal.
Opencast Mining
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) if he will list proposals for opencast working made by the Opencast Executive of British Coal to the appropriate planning authorities, giving the name, location and proposed capacity in each case (2) if he will list the applications for licences to operate opencast mines presently being considered by British Coal, giving the name, location and capacity in each case ;
(3) if he will list the names, locations and capacities of each opencast mine being operated by the Opencast Executive of British Coal ;
(4) if he will list the names, locations and capacities of each opencast mine being operated by a private company under licence from British Coal ;
(5) on how many occasions in each of the past 10 years British Coal has withheld repayment of a bond it held from licensed opencast operators ; and what were the reasons in each case.
Mr. Wakeham : These are matters for the British Coal Corporation, and I have asked the chairman to reply to the hon. Member.
Fuel Exports and Imports
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will now provide the information given in his answers of 9 November 1989, Official Report, column 767, 19 December 1989, Official Report, columns 118-19 and 12 January, Official Report, columns 768-69, relating to fuel exports and imports at 1990 constant prices.
Mr. Wakeham : I regret that the information requested (on the basis of 1990 constant prices) is not available. The procedure used to provide figures at 1985 constant prices in the previous answers referred to in the question was to apply the 1985 unit value for exports and imports to the relevant volumes for the years concerned. The equivalent export and import unit value figures for the whole of 1990 will not be available until February 1991 at the earliest.
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Nuclear Power (Overseas Production)
Mr. Benn : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the examples of economic production of nuclear power abroad, referred to in his statement of 9 November 1989, Official Report, column 1182 ; and what information he possesses on how the cost of such nuclear electricity is calculated in each case.
Mr. Baldry : My right hon. Friend's remarks were informed by the IEA/NEA study "Projected costs of generating electricity from power stations for commissioning in the period 1995-2000", which gives information on the economics of nuclear power in a number of countries. The study will be published shortly.
PRIME MINISTER
Cults
Mr. Speller : To ask the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's mechanisms for the monitoring of cults in the United Kingdom.
The Prime Minister : The Government are aware of the distress that can be caused to individuals and families as a result of involvement with certain cults, particularly where young people are concerned. Provided these groups operate within the law, however, it would not be right, in the Government's view, for us to place restraints on freedom of expression or freedom of religion and belief. Any evidence of illegal activities should be referred to the police who will take appropriate action.
The Government believe that the best way of dealing with these cults is through public exposure of their true nature. For this reason the Home Office has been providing start-up funding since October 1987 over three years for INFORM--Information Network Focus on Religious Movements. Its work is supported by the major churches. Under the terms of its grant, INFORM is required to produce a report annually on its activities. The report for the calendar year 1988 was received in May 1989, and the report for 1989 is expected in due course.
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