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Mr. Trippier : Local authority costs in monitoring their areas-- including landfill sites--for public health purposes. and in taking remedial action where necessary, are reflected in standard spending assessments and annual capital guidelines provided by my Department. For 1990-91 we have also earmarked a £33 million allocation for capital expenditure on landfill gas remedial work and the revenue costs of monitoring activity will be supported through the revenue support grant system.
Competitive Tendering
106. Mr. Paice : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate the potential total savings across local government as a whole through competitive tendering and other cost-efficient practices.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : The Audit Commission's annual report for the financial year ended 31 March 1989 identified total achievable financial savings or added value
Column 763
(arising from service improvements) of £920 million for projects undertaken by local authorities between 1983 and 1989 but concluded that at 31 March 1989 savings of only £372 million had been fulfilled. The report notes, however, that the rate of improvement by authorities in implementing achievable savings has increased steadily.Estate Action
107. Mr. Butcher : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total allocation of funds for the Estate Action programme being made available in 1989-90.
Mr. Chope : The Estate Action budget for 1989-90 is £190 million.
Disabled People (Public Toilets)
Mr. Kirkwood : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in the Official Report the names of organisations dealing with the needs of the disabled he intends to consult on the question of access to public toilets.
Mr. Chope : My Department intends shortly to commission a programme of research on access to public toilets for people with special needs, the primary purpose being to provide information on the needs of disabled people. To ensure that this research addresses all relevant practical issues, my Department will be consulting representatives of the Access Committee for England, the Centre on Environment for the Handicapped, the Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation, the Spastics Society, Arthritis Care, the Association for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus, the Multiple Sclerosis Society, the Muscular Dystrophy Group of Great Britain, the Spinal Injuries Association, the Royal National Institute for the Blind and the British Council of Organisations of Disabled People.
New Parliamentary Building
Mr. Summerson : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the new parliamentary building will be finished and ready for occupation.
Mr. Chope : I advised the House on 25 January 1990 that, subject to there being no further slippage in the contractor's programme, the building should be fitted out and ready for occupation around Easter 1991. I regret to say that the contractor has now reported further slippage which suggests that it would be unrealistic to expect the building to be available for occupation before mid-1991.
The New Building Sub-Committee is currently investigating this project and I understand that it expects to report to the House before the Easter recess.
Helicopters
Mr. O'Brien : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what advice his Department makes available to local planning authorities in respect of helicopter stations on (a) the storage of fuel, (b) the prevention of nuisance from noise and (c) general safety ; and if he will make a statement ;
(2) what matters are included in general planning guidance to local authorities on helicopter operation areas ; and if he will make a statement.
Column 764
(3) what representations he has received from the Civil Aviation Authority on the planning and layout of helicopter ports ; and if he will make a statement.Mr. Moynihan : Planning applications for development associated with helicopter operations must be determined having regard to the local development plan and to any other material considerations. My Department has issued no specific guidance to local planning authorities on such development, although DOE circular 10/73 "Planning and Noise" contains advice on the development control implications of aircraft noise.
The safety aspects of fuel storage and of helicopter operations are the responsibility of the Health and Safety Executive and the Civil Aviation Authority respectively. My right hon. Friend has received no representations from the CAA on the planning and layout of helicopter ports.
Chemicals
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list those chemicals or chemical compounds that are classed as toxic in the United States of America, but which are classed as non-toxic in England and Wales ;
(2) if he will list those chemicals or chemical compounds that are shipped from the United States of America to England and Wales that are classed as non-toxic waste in the United States of America, but which are classed as toxic waste in England and Wales.
Mr. Trippier : My Department does not hold sufficient information to allow a list of toxic and non-toxic chemicals or chemical compounds, as defined under United States legislation, to be prepared. It is, therefore, not possible to list those chemicals, or chemical compounds, classed as toxic in the United States of America which are classed as non-toxic in England and Wales, or vice versa.
Opencast Mining
Mr. Skinner : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many opencast planning inquiries his inspectors have attended in the last 10 years ; and how many appeals against planning refusal have been allowed.
Mr. Moynihan : This information is available only in respect of planning appeals decided since 1 April 1987 and is as follows :
Year |Appeals |Appeals |Appeals |Inquiries
|Decided |allowed |allowed |Held
|after |by Written
|Inquiry |procedure
------------------------------------------------------------------
1987-88 |15 |6 |1 |12
1988-89 |16 |8 |- |14
<1>1989-90 |9 |4 |2 |7
<1> To 31 December 1989.
Coal-fired Power Stations
Sir Ian Lloyd : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what information he has on the levels of alpha activity in becquerels per kilogram of fly ash from Blyth coal-fired power station ; and whether this exceeds the lower limit for low-level waste from a nuclear installation ;
Column 765
(2) what information he has on the levels of alpha activity, in becquerels per kilogram in fly ash from all major coal- fired generating plants in the United Kingdom with a capacity exceeding 500 MW.Mr. Trippier : The levels of alpha activity in fly ash from the major coal-fired generating plants in the United Kingdom would be typically in the range 1,000 to 2,000 bec/kg. The ash from Blyth power station is likely to contain similar concentrations of alpha activity. These levels are lower than the thresholds set out in schedule 3 to the Radioactive Substances Act 1960, below which certain naturally occurring substances are not considered to be radioactive material for the purposes of control under this Act.
High-level Radioactive Wastes
Ms. Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions have been held between his Department and (i) Nirex and (ii) the radioactive waste producing agencies on future inclusion of high-level radioactive wastes into the deep repository being investigated by Nirex.
Mr. Trippier : No discussions have been held with Nirex or the nuclear industry on this subject.
Ms. Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals there are to allow the inclusion of high-level radioactive wastes in the deep repository, currently being investigated by Nirex.
Mr. Trippier : UK Nirex Ltd. has responsibility for providing disposal services for low and intermediate-level radioactive waste. There are no proposals for Nirex to assume responsibility for the disposal of heat-generating or high-level radioactive waste.
Norwich and Norfolk Councils
Mr. Patrick Thompson : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will set out for each year since 1985-86 in a table the expenditure of Norwich city council (a) in cash terms and (b) in constant price terms ;
(2) if he will set out for each year since 1985-86 in a table the expenditure of Norfolk county council (a) in cash terms and (b) in constant price terms.
Mr. Chope : The information is as follows :
Net Current Expenditure
|Cash Terms |Real Terms-
|(£ million) |1989-90
|Prices
|(£ million)<1>
------------------------------------------------------------
Norfolk County Council
1985-86 |234.656 |293.132
1986-87 |254.034 |307.000
1987-88 |281.686 |323.263
1988-89 |312.355 |334.220
1989-90 |335.435 |335.435
Norwich City Council
1985-86 |7,599 |9.493
1986-87 |6,343 |7.666
1987-88 |8.567 |9.831
1988-89 |9.670 |10.347
1989-90 |10.858 |10.858
<1> Using the GDP deflator to convert from cash values to
constant prices.
Column 766
Mr. Patrick Thompson : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total number of people employed by (a) Norfolk county council and (b) Norwich city council for each year since 1985.Mr. Chope : The information is as follows :
Staffing Levels at June
|Norfolk |Norwich City
|County |Council
|Council
----------------------------------------------------
1985 |23,985 |2,189
1986 |24,378 |2,250
1987 |25,176 |2,221
1988 |25,447 |2,259
1989 |26,293 |2,180
Water and Sewerage Charges
Mr. Livsey : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the new infrastructure charges on water and sewerage being introduced by each water plc in England and Wales as from 1 April 1990.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : The infrastructure charges limits which the Secretaries of State for England and Wales have determined for the 10 water service companies and 27 of the statutory water companies, together with the proposed limits for Mid Kent and Mid Sussex Water Companies, are listed in the tables :
Water Services Companies: Water and Sewerage infrastructure
charges (at 1990-91 prices)
|Water |Sewerage
|£ |£
-------------------------------------------------------------
Anglian Water Services Limited |479 |597
Southern Water Services Limited |365 |485
Thames Water Utilities Limited |43 |337
Yorkshire Water Services Limited |529 |626
Northumbrian Water Limited |111 |240
North West Water Limited |198 |338
Severn Trent Water Limited |498 |356
South West Water Services Limited |654 |557
Dwr Cymru Cyfyngedig |259 |332
Wessex Water Services Limited |551 |983
Statutory water companies: water infrastructure charges (at 1990-91
prices)
|£
Bournmouth |1,000
Bristol |439
Cambridge |1,000
Cholderton |201
Colne Valley |435
East Anglian |1,000
Eastbourne |1,000
East Surrey |251
East Worcestershire |576
Essex |404
Folkestone |998
Hartlepool |252
Lee Valley |808
Mid Kent |<1>1,000
Mid Sussex |<1>392
Mid Southern |700
Newcastle |216
North Surrey |392
Portsmouth |358
Rickmansworth |395
South Staffs |606
Sunderland |485
Sutton |254
Tendring Hundred |1,000
West Hampshire |868
West Kent |834
York |222
Chester |758
Wrexham |390
|-------
Average |593
<1> Proposed.
Infrastructure Charges
Mr. Livsey : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek to amend the Water Act 1989 to remove multi-occupancy, self- contained, charitable developments from the requirements of section 79 of that Act.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : No. It is for each water and sewerage undertaker to decide what infrastructure charge, if any, to make in specific cases, provided the charge does not exceed the limit specified in its instrument of appointment and is in accordance with its charges scheme.
Housing Completions
Mr. Wareing : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the housing completion figure in (a) 1960 to 1970, (b) 1970 to 1980 and (c) 1979-89.
Mr. Chope : Total new housebuilding completions in England for these periods were 3.303 million, 2.779 million and 1.963 million dwellings, respectively.
Airborne Lead
Mr. Norris : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment by how much the level of airborne lead has changed since 1985.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : The report by the Warren Spring laboratory on airborne lead concentrations in the United Kingdom 1984-88 shows a decrease from 408 nanogrammes of lead per cubic metre of air (ng/m) in 1985 to 190 ng/m in 1988--a decrease of 53 per cent.
Land Register
Mr. Irvine : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has any proposals to increase the rate at which land in public ownership currently on the land register is being disposed of.
Column 768
Mr. Moynihan : The new codes of practice requiring owners to publish their own registers of unused and underused land place the responsibility clearly on them to ensure that such land is brought into use. Members of the public can use our PROD ( Public Request to Order Disposal') scheme to bring to my right hon. Friend's attention cases where the use of his powers to require disposal might be appropriate ; these powers have been used in relation to 81 sites since 1984. Overall half the land entered on the register since 1981 has subsequently been removed.
Internal Delivery Service
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has any plans to move the internal delivery service from its current Ponton road site.
Mr. Chope [holding answer 14 February 1990] : New premises for the IDS are being sought, but no commitment will be made prior to sale as it is possible that the purchaser may be able to provide premises.
Urban Development Corporations
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is his most up-to-date estimate of the number of jobs (a) in construction and (b) in all other categories in the area administered by the London Docklands development corporation ; and what were the equivalent numbers of jobs in the same area or the nearest area for which statistics are available in the last full year before London Docklands development corporation was set up ; (2) what is his most up-to-date estimate of the number of jobs currently in the area of the Merseyside development corporation in (a) construction and (b) all other categories ; and what were the equivalent number of jobs in the same area or the nearest area for which statistics are available in the last full year for which statistics are available ;
(3) what is the most up-to-date estimate available to him of the total number of jobs in (a) construction and (b) all other categories for areas administered by urban development corporations ; and what were the nearest equivalent figures for the same areas in the last full year before those urban development corporations were set up.
Mr. Moynihan [holding answer 19 February 1990] : The information available is as follows :
Column 767
UDC and designation date Estimated total number of permEstimated total<1>
jobs in area
|At designation|At March 1989 |jobs 1988-89
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
London Docklands-July 1981 |<2>25,200 |48,000 |<2>5,000
Merseyside: original area-March 1981 |1,500 |2,900 |1,110
Black Country-May 1987 |70,500 |75,100 |n.a.
Teesside-May 1987 |9,500 |10,900 |<3>66
Trafford Park-February 1987 |24,500 |26,000 |<3>736
Tyne and Wear-May 1987 |40,200 |41,500 |<3>249
<1>Pre designation figures are only available for LDDC.
<2>LDDC figures:
-the permanent job figures are not directly comparable. 1981 data was derived from the Census of
Employment which included only jobs with a pay point in the UDA. The 1989 data includes all jobs
in the UDA.
-the construction job figures are similarly not comparable. The 1981 Census gave a total of 1,
964 construction jobs with a pay point in the UDA.
<3>Information is only available in terms of man-years, not actual numbers of jobs.
Column 769
The UDCs in Bristol, central Manchester, Leeds and Sheffield, and Merseyside's extended area, were established during 1988-89. They had therefore not been in existence long enough, by March 1989, for the total number of jobs in their areas to have altered significantly.Denham Court
Mr. Tim Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to reach a decision on the application by Buckinghamshire county council for consent under the London and Home Counties (Green Belt) Act 1938, to grant a lease of the land at Denham court, Denham.
Mr. Moynihan [holding answer 19 February 1990] : A decision is being announced today.
Audible Bird Scarers
Mr. Gale : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the organisations from which he has received written representations concerning the use of audible bird scarers.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory [holding answer 20 February 1990] : The following organisations submitted comments on the draft code of practice on audible bird scarers issued for public consultation by the Department in December 1988 :
Association of District Councils
Association of Noise Consultants
Birdscarers Anti-Nuisance Group
The British Horse Society
Country Landowners Association
The Environment Council
The Law Society
National Society for Clean Air
National Farmers Union
Nature Conservancy Council
Noise Abatement Society
The Noise Council
National Physical Laboratory
The Ramblers Association
South Cambridgeshire District Council
The working party that drafted the code included the Institution of Environmental Health Officers and the National Farmers Union.
Mr. Gale : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the organisatons with which he has met to discuss the future use of audible bird scarers.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory [holding answer 20 February 1990] : None.
Mr. Gale : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to meet with representatives of the birdscarers' anti-nuisance group.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory [holding answer 20 February 1990] : None at the moment.
Mr. Gale : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to publish a further draft code of practice relating to the use of audible bird scarers.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory [holding answer 20 February 1990] : By the end of March 1990.
Column 770
Chipboard Factories
Mr. Beith : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will make it his policy to require chipboard factories to be fitted with electrified filter bed equipment ;
(2) what analysis has been made of the emissions from chipboard factories in England ; and if he will make a statement ;
(3) what controls exist on emissions to the air from chipboard factories ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Trippier [holding answer 20 February 1990] : Emissions to the air from chipboard factories are subject to control by local authorities under the statutory nuisance provisions of part III of the Public Health Act 1936. I understand that analyses of emissions from three major chipboard factories have been undertaken by, or on behalf of, local authorities.
Under part I of the Environmental Protection Bill it is proposed to give local authorities powers of prior authorisation over air pollution from certain categories of timber processes including chipboard factories. These processes will not be scheduled under the Bill until national guidance on appropriate air pollution controls has been issued by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment. Different pollution abatement technologies including electrified filter bed equipment are currently being considered in drawing up this guidance.
Toxic Waste
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action under the Control of Industrial Major Accident Hazards Regulations, which came into effect in 1986, his Department has considered with respect to the waste recycling plant at Wath-on-Dearne, where toxic and dangerous chemicals are stored.
Mr. Nicholls : I have been asked to reply.
None. The waste recycling installation at Wath-on-Dearne is a site licensed under section 5 of the Control of Pollution Act 1974, and as such is excluded from the Control of Industrial Major Accident Hazards Regulations 1984 by virtue of regulation 3(1)(e).
NORTHERN IRELAND
Ambulance Union
Mr. McGrady : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions have been held with officials of the ambulance union in Northern Ireland about proposed salary increases and a pay review formula.
Mr. McGrady : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he last met officials of the trade union representing ambulance drivers and associated paramedic staff in Northern Ireland ; and what matters were discussed.
Mr. Needham : The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has not met these officials.
Mr. McGrady : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations he has received about the ambulance service dispute in Northern Ireland and (a) salary increases and (b) a pay review formula.
Column 771
Mr. Needham : Representations have been received from six district councils supporting the request of staff side of the ambulance Whitley council to have the dispute referred to arbitration. One council also recommended that the ambulance service should be treated no differently from the emergency services for the purpose of determining pay.Bomb Explosions
Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many bomb explosions there have been at the premises of Short Bros. since 25 May 1989 ; and if he is giving this firm security advice about future employees.
Mr. Cope : Since May 1989, there have been three separate incidents of terrorist attack against property belonging to Short Bros. plc, during which a total of seven bombs exploded. The security of Shorts' property is kept under review and, in line with longstanding Government policy on such matters, I know the right hon. Gentleman would not expect me to elaborate further on the measures being taken to safeguard this firm's property.
School Rolls
Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many pupils there are at each primary school in the constituency of Newry and Armagh.
Dr. Mawhinney : The latest available information is as follows :
|Enrolment<1>
----------------------------------------------------------
Aghavilly |85
Ahorey |37
Anamar |84
Annaghmore |85
Armagh Christian Bros |459
Armstrong |441
Ballynaclosha |75
Bessbrook |125
Cabra |32
Carrickrovaddy |38
Clady (St. Michael's) |36
Clare |67
Clay |74
Clonalig |167
Cloughoge |333
Collegeland |40
Collone |123
Corttamlet |40
Darkely |86
Derryhale |86
Drelincourt Infants |45
Dromintee |138
Drumhillery |91
Drumsallen |46
Foley |82
Glassdrummond |72
Hamiltonsbawn |102
Hardy Memorial |496
Jonesborough |139
Keedy |57
Killeen |95
Killylea |82
Kingsmills |31
Kinnego |28
Lisdrumchor |23
Lislea |12
Lisnadill |52
Lissummon |54
Loughgall |48
Markethill |235
Middletown Boys' |49
Mount St. Catherine's Convent |484
Mountnorris |86
Mullaghglass |69
Mullavilly |50
Newry Model |48
Newtownhamilton (St. Michael's) |97
Newtownhamilton |125
Poyntzpass |77
Salters Grange |18
St. Brigid's, Crossmaglen |49
St. Brigid's, Drumilly |87
St. Clare's Convent, Keady |272
St. Clare's Convent, Newry |695
St. Colman's Abbey, Newry |777
St. Colmcille's, Armagh |27
St. James's, Markethill |49
St. James's, Tandragee |69
St. Jarlath's, Blackwaterstown |168
St. Joseph's Convent, Newry |448
St. Joseph's, Armagh |113
St. Joseph's, Poyntzpass |90
St. Joseph's, Killeavy |178
St. Joseph's, Bessbrook |376
St. Lawrence's, Belleek |53
St. Louis Convent, Middletown |42
St. Malachy's, Whitecross |92
St. Malachy's, Armagh |195
St. Malachy's, Camlough |311
St. Malachy's, Carnagat |427
St. Mary's Boys', Keady |250
St. Mary's, Granemore |61
St. Mary's (Barr) |58
St. Mary's, Mullaghbawn |237
St. Mochua's, Derrynoose |87
St. Oliver Plunkett, Forkhill |74
St. Oliver Plunket, Loughall |99
St. Patrick's Boys', Newry |377
St. Patrick's, Crossmaglen |313
St. Patrick's, Armagh |505
St. Patrick's, Cullyhanna |291
St. Peter's, Cloughreagh |286
Tandragee |349
The Cope |91
Tullyheron |52
Tullymore |67
Tullyroan |37
Tullysaran |74
Tynan |24
Windsor Hill |242
<1>At January 1989.
Benefits
Ms. Ruddock : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish a table showing the latest figures of how many people are dependent upon (a) income support, (b) family credit and (c) housing benefit, broken down into claimants, dependants and children.
Mr. Needham : The latest available figures are :
|Claimants|Dependent|Children
|partners
------------------------------------------------------------
(a) Income support
(May 1988)<1> |184,140 |44,940 |118,240
(b) Family credit
(February 1990) |14,524 |11,118 |<2>36,000
(c) Housing benefit
(February 1990) |164,754 |n/a |n/a
<1> Source: 5 per cent. sample.
<2> Approximate.
Column 773
Stalker Inquiry
Dr. Marek : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his answer of 12 February, whether any aspect of the Stalker inquiry was on the agenda at the meeting held on 12 June 1986.
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