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Hill Farmers
88. Mr. Amos : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on Government assistance to hill farmers in less-favoured areas.
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Mr. Gummer : I refer my hon. Friend to the statement I made to the House on 30 January 1990 ( Official Report columns 159-70).Food Marketing
89. Mr. Burt : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what contribution his Department is making to improve the marketing of British-produced food in 1990.
Mr. Curry : Food From Britain was set up in 1983 by my Department to improve the marketing of British food and drink both at home and abroad. In each of 1989-90 and 1990-91 the Government will provide FFB with £3.5 million for its establishment costs plus up to a further £1 million dependent on the level of industry funding. In addition agricultural and horticultural marketing co-operatives may be eligible for grant under the agricultural and horticultural co-operation scheme.
Cereal Sector
Mr. Ralph Howell : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the current state of the cereal sector.
Mr. Curry : The 1989 cereals harvest in the United Kingdom was 22.4 million tonnes, the fourth largest on record. About 5 million tonnes of this is surplus to domestic demand : I expect that this will find an export market elsewhere in the Community or be exported with Community export refunds to third countries. There is a good supply of milling wheat on the home market, and imports are likely to contribute no more than about 15 per cent. of United Kingdom millers' requirements. Intervention stocks are at lower levels than in recent years. Prices of cereals are generally above last season's levels, except for breadmaking wheat, on which premiums have narrowed. The Commission's proposals for the 1990 price fixing provide for further devaluation of the green pound. We shall be pressing for a devaluation which keeps us on course for the elimination of all monetary gaps by the end of 1992. Information on farm incomes from cereals is to be found on pages 66 and 68 of "Agriculture in the United Kingdom : 1989", which was published on 6 February.
Rain Forest Species
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what actions he has taken on the international trade in rain forest birds and reptiles since the Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Penrith and The Border (Mr. Maclean), answered the Consolidated Fund debate of the hon. Member for Linlithgow, Official Report, 20 December 1989, column 267.
Mr. Maclean : I refer to the answer given to the hon. Member on 29 January-- Official Report, column 75. Officials from my Ministry and the Department of the Environment met conservation and welfare organisations on 30 January.
Nuclear Attack
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what advice he currently gives to farmers to protect their cattle in the event of a nuclear attack.
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Mr. Maclean : The booklet, "Civil Defence and the Farmer", which was published in 1985, and is available in the Library of the House, contains advice on measures farmers might take to protect themselves and their livestock in the event of a nuclear attack.
School Milk
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he expects changes in the milk co-responsibility levy to affect the provision of milk in schools.
Mr. Curry : The school milk subsidy is provided for in EC regulations and is wholly financed by the Community. The EC Commission allocates part of the receipts from the milk co-responsibility levy to offset the cost of this and a number of other subsidies in the milk sector. I understand that the Commission intends to use co-responsibility levy receipts to offset the cost of the school milk subsidy by 117 mecu in 1990- 91--the same amount as in 1989-90. It would be for the Commission and the Council of Ministers to determine whether any future reductions in milk co- responsibility levy receipts should be reflected in the arrangements for the school milk subsidy.
NORTHERN IRELAND
Stephens Inquiry (Fire)
Rev. Martin Smyth : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the progress of the inquiry into the cause of the fire at the Stephens inquiry team office.
Mr. Cope : I understand that the forensic scientists have now concluded their investigation and have reported that the most probable cause of the fire was an accident.
Coleraine, Ballymoney and Moyle Acute Hospital
Rev. William McCrea : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the latest option appraisal for the acute hospital for Coleraine, Ballymoney and Moyle district will be the final one ; if he will accept the findings of the option appraisal and proceed immediately to build on the basis of its conclusion ; whether the currently available £20 million will be available to start building and at what date ; and what will be the target for completion.
Mr. Needham : The option appraisal is being undertaken by the Northern health and social services board. Provided that it is carried out to the standard
Firearms
Mr. William Ross : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many firearms, listed by the category under which they are identified by the Royal Ulster Constabulary, are believed to have been stolen by terrorist organisations from (a) civilians, (b) Royal Ulster Constabulary, (c) Royal Ulster Constabulary Reserve (d) the Ulster Defence Regiment, (e) the regular Army and (f) prison officers in each of the last five years for which figures are available ;
(2) how many firearms, listed by the category under which they are identified by the Royal Ulster Constabulary, have been stolen from (a) civilians, (b) the
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Royal Ulster Constabulary, (c) the Royal Ulster Constabulary Reserve, (d) Ulster Defence Regiment, (e) the regular Army and (f) prison officers in each of the last five years for which figures are available ; and how many such firearms, and of which category were later recovered, or as much of such information as is available to him.Mr. Cope [holding answer 9 January 1990] : Readily available information is as follows :
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Legally held firearms stolen in Northern Ireland
|Bullet firing|Shotguns |Air weapons/
|miscellaneous
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1989
Civilians |15 |41 |4
Royal Ulster Constabulary |10 |- |-
Royal Ulster Constabulary Reserve
Ulster Defence Regiment |6 |- |-
Regular Army |3 |- |-
1988
Civilians |16 |54 |13
Royal Ulster Constabulary |9 |- |-
Royal Ulster Constabulary Reserve
Ulster Defence Regiment |1 |- |-
Regular Army |4 |- |-
1987
Civilians |34 |91 |13
Royal Ulster Constabulary |10 |- |-
Royal Ulster Constabulary Reserve
Ulster Defence Regiment |179 |- |-
Regular Army |- |- |-
1986
Civilians |13 |96 |20
Royal Ulster Constabulary |11 |- |1
Royal Ulster Constabluary Reserve
Ulster Defence Regiment |1 |- |-
Regular Army |2 |- |-
1985
Civilians |19 |79 |9
Royal Ulster Constabulary |6 |- |-
Royal Ulster Constabulary Reserve
Ulster Defence Regiment |9 |- |-
Regular Army |1 |- |-
Note: Prison Officers are included in civilian category.
During 1989, a total of 246 firearms were found in Northern Ireland. Of these, 40 were recorded as having been stolen in Northern Ireland in previous years. Of these 40 stolen firearms, 25 were bullet firing and 15 were shotguns. Further information and details of weapons stolen by terrorist organisations are not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Lough Mann (Development)
Mr. McGrady : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for South Down of 11 December 1989, Official Report, column 450, what action was taken by the Department of Environment town and country planning service to stop the development at the Shorts site at Lough Mann situated on the Downpatrick-Ballynahinch Road following the inspections which took place in May and September 1989.
Mr. Needham [holding answer 6 February 1990] : None. On 15 January 1990, Down district council was consulted by the Department of the Environment (NI) with an
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opinion to approve the planning application referred to in my written reply. The council agreed with the Department's opinion.Fair Employment Commission
Mr. William Ross : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish a table in the Official Report to show (a) the number of employees of the Fair Employment Commission, (b) the number in each grade, Department and category and their religious affiliation, (c) the catchment area of the employees, (d) the religious composition by percentage of (i) the total population and (ii) the population of working age in the catchment area, (e) the number of employees born outside the United Kingdom and (f) the number of employees born in Great Britain.
Mr. Needham [holding answer 6 February 1990] : At 2 February 1990, the Fair Employment Commission had 35 employees, including the chairman. Under the control of the chief executive, staff are distributed as follows :--
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Fair Employment Commission (FEC) Departments
NICS Grade Equivalents |Administration |Advice and Information |Complaints |General Operations
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Principal |Solicitor and Secretary|Director (1) |Director (1) |Director (1)
|to FEC (1)
Deputy Principal |- |Manager (1) Press |Senior Complaints |Manager (2)
|Officer (1) |Officer (2) |Computer Systems
Staff Officer |Finance and Admin |Advice and |Complaints Officers |General Operations
|Officer (1) |Information Officers |(4) |Officers (3)
|(4)
Executive Officer (Grade 1) |Office Supervisor (1) |Adertising Officer (1) |- |Assistant General
|Operations Officer (1)
Executive Officer (Grade 2) |- |- |- |-
Admin Officer |Admin Officer (6) |- |Admin Officer (1) |-
|---------- |---------- |---------- |----------
Total | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8
The commission is currently in the process of recruiting employees and will be submitting a monitoring return in accordance with section 27 of the Fair Employment (Northern Ireland) Act 1989. Once the final staffing complement has been reached the commission intends to publish detailed information on the religious composition of its staff and the progress of its affirmative action programme as a follow-up to the information published on 22 February 1989.
Mr. Colin Wallace
Mr. William Ross : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he has taken to investigate the files of the Northern Ireland Office in Northern Ireland and in London to discover whether information about the activities engaged in by Mr. Colin Wallace and his section is recorded in those files.
Mr. Brooke [holding answer 6 February 1990] : A detailed study has recently been made of all relevant Northern Ireland Office files.
EDUCATION AND SCIENCE
Agriculture Colleges
93. Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many students were attending full-time courses in agricultural colleges in 1989 ; and what was the comparable figure for 1984.
Mr. Jackson : Available figures for full-time students attending agricultural colleges in England which were local education authority maintained or assisted or in receipt of direct grant from the Department of Education and Science are as follows :
|Number
-------------------------------
November 1984 |8,700
November 1988<1> |8,200
<1> Provisional.
Statistics for colleges in other parts of the United Kingdom are the responsibility of the respective Secretaries of State.
Further Education
Mr. Fatchett : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are the numbers of 16 to 18-year-olds staying on in full-time education in
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(a) school and (b) further education colleges in 1988-89 ; and the target numbers for 1992-93 in (i) school and(ii) further education colleges.Mr. Alan Howarth : The information requested is as follows :
16 to 18-year-olds in full-time education
England (000s)
|1988-89 |1992-93
|(provisional)|(projected)
------------------------------------------------------------
Schools |389 |343
Further education |261 |227
Mr. Fatchett : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what were the numbers of 16-year olds in full-time education in 1987-88 and 1988-89.
Mr. Alan Howarth : There were 336,000 full-time students in England attending schools and colleges of further education in 1987-88 and the same number in 1988-89.
Primary School Teachers
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make it his policy that all primary school teachers enjoy a minimum of 10 per cent. non-contract time during their working day.
Mr. Alan Howarth : The organisation of the school day and the duties to be undertaken by teachers in their 1,265 hours of directed time are matters for head teachers.
Teachers' Pay
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on teachers' pay.
Mr. Alan Howarth : I refer the hon. Member to the reply that my hon. Friend gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Ludlow (Mr. Gill) on 1 February, Official Report columns 287-89 .
Goldsmiths Youth Orchestra
Ms. Ruddock : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received seeking funding for the Goldsmiths youth orchestra ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Jackson : My right hon. Friend has received no representation about this matter which is for Goldsmiths college to decide.
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Expenditure
Mr. Oppenheim : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list all shire counties in England in rank order of expenditure per secondary pupil per year, starting with the highest spending authority, together with their position in the table of examination results for school leavers achieving grades A to C at GCSE in the latest year for which figures are available.
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Mr. Alan Howarth : The table gives the net institutional expenditure per secondary school pupil in shire counties in England in the financial year 1987-88, and averaged examination results for the three years 1985-86 to 1987-88. The purpose of averaging is to reduce sampling error within the derived percentages.
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Secondary schools in shire counties in England: Net institutional expenditure per pupil and examination achievements at GCSE<1>
Net expenditure Numbers of leavers with five or
|per pupil |<3>more GCSE results at grades
|(£ cash)<2> |A to C <4><5>
|As a per cent. |Rank
|of all school
|leavers
Shire County
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Leicestershire |1,565 |23.4 |30
Oxfordshire |1,560 |26.2 |21
Cleveland |1,545 |27.1 |16
Nottinghamshire |1,540 |21.6 |36
Derbyshire |1,530 |22.5 |35
Cumbria |1,510 |26.9 |17
Buckinghamshire |1,505 |33.4 |2
Hertfordshire |1,490 |30.3 |5
Shropshire |1,470 |27.7 |11
Humberside |1,460 |21.5 |37
Bedfordshire |1,455 |26.0 |24
Lancashire |1,450 |25.7 |25
Avon |1,435 |26.1 |22
Essex |1,420 |26.3 |20
Staffordshire |1,420 |23.4 |31
Surrey |1,415 |36.4 |1
Durham |1,405 |21.0 |38
Hampshire |1,405 |27.7 |12
Warwickshire |1,400 |26.6 |18
Cheshire |1,390 |28.3 |10
Northumberland |1,390 |29.8 |6
East Sussex |1,385 |27.4 |13
Gloucestershire |1,385 |29.1 |8
Norfolk |1,385 |22.8 |32
Devon |1,380 |24.4 |28
North Yorkshire |1,375 |32.8 |3
Northamptonshire |1,375 |22.7 |34
West Sussex |1,360 |32.6 |4
Somerset |1,355 |24.5 |27
Isle of Wight |1,350 |17.0 |39
Wiltshire |1,350 |24.0 |29
Cornwall and Scilly Isles |1,350 |27.3 |14
Hereford and Worcester |1,330 |28.5 |9
Dorset |1,320 |27.2 |15
Cambridgeshire |1,315 |26.1 |23
Suffolk |1,305 |22.7 |33
Kent |1,290 |26.5 |19
Lincolnshire |1,280 |25.3 |26
Berkshire |n/a |29.4 |7
<1> The figures in the table have not been adjusted to take account of variations in LEA's socio-economic circumstances.
<2> Net institutional expenditure includes the cost of salaries and wages, premises, and certain supplies and services. It does not include the cost of
school meals, central administration and inspection, debt charges or revenue contributions to capital outlay.
<3> The unit spending figures are based on LEA expenditure returns to the Department of the Environment for the financial year 1987-88, and pupil number
returns to DES.
<4> The examination data are aggregated from the results of a sample survey for the academic years 1985-86, 1986-87 and 1987-88. The survey is based on a
10 per cent. sample of pupils in maintained and independent schools (excluding special schools) who have reached the minimum school leaving age. The
percentages quoted do not reflect the achievements of pupils at O-level, CSE or GCSE after leaving school; nor their attainments in examinations leading
to vocational or other qualifications at school or elsewhere.
<5> Includes grades A-C at O-level and CSE grade 1.
Higher Education
Mr. Patrick Thompson : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many students have been enrolled in higher education in the current academic year ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Jackson : The table sets out the relevant figures with a comparison with those for 1988-89 :--
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Thousands of students
|1988-89 |1989-90
|Final |Provisional
|actual |estimate
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Home full-time and sandwich
courses
(a) Initial entrants
(excluding postgraduates)
Universities (GB) |76 |82
Polytechnics and colleges funding
council (PCFC) sector |85 |95
Other |3 |3
(b) Total
(including postgraduates)
Universities (GB) |<1>271 |283
PCFC funding sector |<1>239 |261
Other |6 |6
2. Overseas full-time and sandwich
courses |63 |66
3. Part-time |344 |358
(including Open University)
4. Total full-time and part-time |700 |741
(FTE)
5. Age participation index (GB) |15.2 |16.8
<1> These figures have been adjusted to include students at Bulmershe
College in the universities figure so as to allow direct comparison
with the 1989-80 figures following the College's merger
with the University of Reading.
Note:
The number of home full-time and sandwich course students entering
universities and the PCFC sector increased this academic year by 8 per
cent. and 12 per cent. respectively. I congratulate universities,
polytechnics and colleges for promoting their courses and for their
readiness to respond to the increase in demand. This welcome expansion
reflects the success of the Government's policies in schools as well as
in further and higher education. One in six of all young people now
enter higher education compared with one in eight in 1979-80. This will
bring benefits both for individual students and for the nation's
prosperity.
City Technology Colleges
Mr. Straw : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will update the table given in answer to the hon. Member for Blackburn, Official Report, 29 June 1989, columns 533-36, giving the latest available information in respect of each city technology college or proposed or planned city technology college.
Mr. MacGregor [holding answer 6 February 1990] : The table covers the agreed and announced CTCs in England.
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Name |Kingshurst |Tyneside |Bradford |Dartford |Britschool |Djanogly |Macmillan
|College
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Site |Kingshurst |St. John |Newby |Downs |Site of |Sherwood Rise, |St. Michael RC
|School site |Fisher School |Square, |School site |Selhurst |Nottingham |School,
|site |Bradford |Tertiary |Middlesbrough
|Centre
LEA |Solihull |Gateshead |Bradford |Kent |Croydon |Nottinghamshire|Cleveland
Planned number of |1,000 |900 |980 |1,250 |720 |990 |1,050
pupils
Total capital cost<1> |£9.65 million |£7.8 million |£8.2 million |£8.3 million |To be |£9.05 million |£7.5 million
|determined
Exchequer contribution |£7.55 million |£6.24 million |£6.56 million |£6.64 million |To be |£7.80 million |£5.625 million
|determined
Sponsors' contribution
(i) Committed<2> |£1.93 million |£1.54 million |£1.64 million |£1.66 million |To be |£1.25 million |To be
|determined |determined
(ii) Confirmed |£2.5 million |£1.5 million |£2.8 million |£1.2 million |£1.1 million |£1.7 million |£1.4 million
Principal sponsors |Hanson |Peter Vardy |Dixons plc, |Mr. G. Leigh |The British |Mr. Harry |BAT Industries
|Trust |Mr. Hakim |Record |Djanogly
|Wong |Industry
|Trust
Contracts awarded to |None |Building |None |None |None |None |None
sponsors |contract
|Laings
|Northern
School closure involved |No |No |No |Yes |No |No |No
Has a ballot of parents |No |No |No |No<3> |No |No |No
been held and with
what result
Notes:
<1> In addition the Exchequer bears revenue costs on a basis comparable to those of maintained schools in similar areas.
<2> Sponsors' contribution to date. Fund raising continues in each project. This includes contributions in kind which are as yet uncosted.
<3> Public consultations were held by Kent on its proposals to close the Downs School. One statutory objection containing 62 signatures was made to the
section 12 proposal subsequently published.
<4> A further £13 million is promised but not committed to agreed and announced projects.
<5> At December 1989.
<6> Includes estimated value of premises.
Name |Harris |Bacon's |Haberdasher's |Brighton |Derby |Corby
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Site |Sylvan School |Bacon's School |Haberdasher's |Fitzherbert |Wood Street |Greenfield Site
|site, Croydon |site, Southwark|Aske's |School site, |at Great
|Hatcham |Brighton |Oakley, Corby
|School site
LEA |Croydon |Southwork |Lewisham |East Sussex |Derbyshire |Northants
Planned number of pupils |1,100 |1,100 |750 |900 |1,075
Total Capital cost<1> |£7.981 million |£13.1 million |To be |£9 million |To be |£9.39 million
|determined |determined
Exchequer contribution |£6.385 million |£10 million |To be |£7.2 million |To be |To be
Sponsors'contribution
(i) Committed |£1.596 million |£3.1 million |To be |£1.8 million |To be |To be
|determined |determined |determined
(ii) Confirmed<4><5> |£1.5 million |£2.5 million |£5 million<6> |£1.1 million |£1.2 million |£1.9 million
Principal sponsors |Philip and |Philip and |Haberdasher's |Greenleaf |The Landau |Mr. Hugh de
|Pauline Harris |Pauline Harris |Aske's Charity |Planters |Foundation |Capell Brooke
|Trust |Trust
Contracts awarded to |None |None |None |None |None |None
sponsors
School closure involved |Yes |Yes |Yes |No |No |No
Has a ballot of parents been |Yes majority |No |Yes majority in|No |No |No
Held and with what result |against |favour
Notes:
<1> In addition the Exchequer bears revenue costs on a basis comparable to those of maintained schools in similar areas.
<2> Sponsors' contribution to date. Fund raising continues in each project. This includes contributions in kind which are as yet uncosted.
<3> Public consultations were held by Kenton its proposals to close the Downs School. One statutory objection containing 62 signatures was
made to the section 12 proposal subsequently published.
<4> A further £13 million is promised but not committed to agreed and announced projects.
<5> At December 1989.
<6> Includes estimated value of premises.
Euro-Science
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was his assessment of the validity of the European Commission's calculation that Euro-Science needs at least 7.7 billion ecu over the next five years ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : I have been asked to reply.
I represent Her Majesty's Government at the Council of Ministers (Research). Having given full consideration to the European Commission's proposal, the Research Council agreed on 15 December to a total budget of 5.7 becu (£4.2 billion) for a new framework programme for research and technological development, from 1990 to 1994 (I refer the hon. Member to the replies I gave on 17 January, Hansard column 318 and 24 January, Hansard column 699 ). As I said in my answer of 17 January, we consider that this was a very satisfactory outcome.
WALES
Radon
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list those towns and villages in Wales in which there may be significant effects on houses arising from radon ; and if he will issue guidance as to what step householders in these locations should take to minimise any dangers.
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Mr. Grist : The Welsh Office commissioned survey and that carried out by the National Radiological Protection Board to date have not revealed any towns and villages in which here may be significant effect on houses arising from radon. The surveys have demonstrated levels of radon above the action levels in very few houses but these have been included in the second phase of the NRPB survey where measurements are being taken over a period of 12 months. It is not possible to anticipate the findings of the second part of the survey the result of which should be available towards the end of the year. Two free advice booklets "Radon in Houses" and "The Householder's Guide to Radon" have been distributed to homeowners in the surveys and are available on request.
Computer Security
Mr. Colvin : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps his Department has taken and is taking to improve the security of its computer systems.
Mr. Wyn Roberts : The Department follows CCTA guidance which covers all aspects of information technology security, and keeps its application of this advice under continuous review.
Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowance
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has any plans to increase the hill livestock compensatory allowance for cattle.
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Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will meet the farmers' unions in Wales to discuss their call for an increase in allowances for cows and ewes, other than those classified as hardy.Mr. Wyn Roberts : The views and priorities of the farmers' unions in Wales were fully taken into account in the recent autumn review of hill livestock compensatory allowances.
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will increase the hardy ewes allowance on the higher hills in line with inflation since 1986 ; what would be the cost ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Wyn Roberts : No. Hill livestock compensatory allowances are set annually after all economic conditions affecting upland farmers' incomes have been taken into account.
Dyslexia
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the measures he has taken since 1979, and the initiatives he intends to take, to assist dyslexic children in Wales.
Mr. Wyn Roberts : The Education Act 1981 imposes duties on all local education authorities to identify, assess and make appropriate provision for all children with special educational needs, including dyslexics. Under the Education Reform Act 1988 all children, including those with special educational needs, will follow the national curriculum as far as is practicable.
Local Government Legislation
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the subsidiary legislation having effect in Wales that is planned subsequent to the passage of the Local Government Act 1989, and if he will indicate (a) when he hopes to publish each item of subsidiary legislation and (b) when he intends that each should take effect.
Mr. Grist : The following regulations have so far been made under the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 :
The Charging Authorities (Population for Precepts) (Wales) Regulations (SI 1989/12268)
The Charging Authorities (Notification of Precept Population) (Wales) Regulations (SI 1989/12305)
The Local Government (Politically Restricted Posts) Regulations 1990 (SI 1990/42)
Further secondary legislation will be introduced as required to ensure the progressive implementation of the Act. The Government's policy will be to ensure, whenever possible, that all interested parties will have an opportunity to comment.
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will make it his policy to ensure that adequate time is given between publication of subordinate legislation relative to Wales subsequent to the passing of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 and the implementation of the Act.
Mr. Grist : The Government will continue to give as much time as practicable.
Community Care
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what guidance he has offered to local authorities in Wales on the contribution he expects them to make towards the
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provision of suitable homes for (a) disabled people and (b) elderly and very elderly people as part of the implementation of community care policies outlined in his recent White Paper.Mr. Grist : I fully recognise the importance of housing in relation to community care. This has been clearly reflected both in the Welsh chapter of the recently published White Paper, and in the draft planning guidance on the development of social care plans for the relevant client groups in Wales, which issued for consultation on 26 January. This covered the involvement of housing associations and local authorities. I await the result of the consultation exercise with interest.
Companies (Local Authority Interests)
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is now his proposed implementation date for the parts of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 relating to companies in which local authorities have an interest.
Mr. Grist : The proposed implementation date is 1 April 1990.
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he intends to publish a revised version of his draft circular regarding companies in which local authorities have interests dated 27 October 1989 in the light of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.
Mr. Grist : The revised circular will be published when the provisions of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 regulating local authority companies come into force. I will provide local authority associations in Wales with an advance draft of the order bringing into effect the regulations on companies, for comment.
Local Government Finance
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many civil servants in his Department, and at what cost, have been involved in production and dissemination of articles for newspapers in Wales concerning the revenue support grant and the community charge, and if he will make a statement ;
(2) what is the individual and total cost of his articles in each of the local and regional newspapers of Wales concerning the revenue support grant for Wales and the community charge ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Wyn Roberts : Articles published under my right hon. Friend's name may or may not be based on a corpus of information provided in the normal way by civil servants. It is not possible to attribute to the Department the cost of such information. Articles disseminated by the Department are given free of charge to newspapers and the costs incurred are de minimis.
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether his Department made any payment to the Chester Chronicle in relation to the publication of his article on the revenue support grant for Wales and the community charge in the Chester Chronicle, Deeside edition of 2 February.
Column 755
Waste Sites
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a survey in Wales of waste sites which might pollute water supplies ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Grist : A survey of contaminated land in Wales which included abandoned waste disposal sites was undertaken in Wales in 1982 and updated in 1988. The results of the survey have been widely publicised and a copy of the survey has been placed on the Library of the House. Current sites are licensed by district councils in Wales who are under a duty to ensure that waste disposal sites do not cause pollution of water.
Stroke Victims (Therapy)
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures he intends to introduce to help stroke victims in need of (a) physiotherapy and (b) speech therapy ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Grist : The level of provision of physiotherapy and speech therapy services for stroke victims is a matter for district health authorities in the light of their assessment of local need and competing demands for resources. From April 1991 we shall expect the social care needs of such patients to be included in the joint social care plans prepared by social services authorities in co-operation with health authorities and others.
Radioactive Waste Incinerator (Trawsfynydd)
Mr. Livsey : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the proposal to build a new radioactive waste incinerator at Trawsfynydd nuclear power station.
Mr. Baldry : I have been asked to reply.
This is a matter for Nuclear Electric. I have asked the chairman to write to the hon. Member.
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