| Previous Section | Home Page |
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory [holding answer 12 March 1990] : The questionnaire is being sent to the chief executives of all district and county councils in England.
Mr. Janman : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if his Department has made an assessment or study of the volume of domestic refuse, in terms of percentage, that can be recycled into refuse-derived products, and what percentage remains for landfill ; and what is his Department's policy towards the expansion of this capability.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory [holding answer 12 March 1990] : The Government consider that there is considerable potential for the recycling of waste into refuse-derived products, including fuel, and for reducing the proportion of waste that is committed to landfill. This issue is currently being studied by expert working groups under the aegis of the recycling forum, chaired by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.
Mr. Janman : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if his Department will encourage local authorities to explore joint venture agreements with private sector companies in the field of recycling ; and if his Department has made any assessment of the number of private sector companies that would be able to take part in such schemes.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory [holding answer 12 March 1990] : Yes ; it is important for the private sector to be involved in recycling ventures by local authorities at every stage of recycling--this can include the collection and sorting of waste and its disposal to contractors or direct to manufacturers. Together with the Department of Trade and Industry, we intend to explore the potential for further joint ventures in this field.
Mr. Janman : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on joint ventures currently in existence between local authorities and the private sector to recycle domestic refuse ; and if he will list those authorities and companies currently operating such arrangements in the United Kingdom.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory [holding answer 12 March 1990] : Comprehensive information about such joint ventures is not currently available, but is being sought through a detailed questionnaire on recycling which is being sent to local authorities.
Column 191
Public Relations
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what was the total expenditure by his Department on press and public relations in 1979-80 and in each following year ; and what is his latest estimate for the current year and budget for 1990-91 ; (2) what were the figures for the spending by his Department on (a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) newspaper advertising and (d) other promotional material in 1979-80 and in each following year ; and what is his latest estimate for the current year and budget for 1990-91.
Mr. Chris Patten [holding answer 12 March 1990] : Information relating to the financial years between 1979-80 and 1984-85 inclusive is not readily available and cannot be obtained without disproportionate cost. Final decisions have not yet been made about cost to be incurred in 1990- 91.
Following is the information relating to the remaining financial years in respect of paid publicity and associated staff costs for my Department including PSA :
1985-86 |3.5
1986-87 |4.2
1987-88 |4.8
1988-89 |6.9
<1>1989-90 |15.0
<1> Forecast outturn.
Expenditure is not broken down between different publicity media. The increase in expenditure in 1989-90 is mainly due to specific information campaigns on new legislation on local government finance and housing and to encourage the use of lead-free petrol. Publicity expenditure arising in the course of the flotation of the 10 water plcs is not included and will be notified to Parliament in the usual way.
Parliamentary Creche
Mrs. Fyfe : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress he has made in identifying suitable premises for the provision of a creche for hon. Members' and employees' families ; and whether he has any plans to make provisions for children accompanying parents on visits and lobbies.
Mr. Chope [holding answer 12 March 1990] : I have not been requested by the Select Committee on House of Commons (Services), to convert accommodation for any of the facilities mentioned by the hon. Lady.
Inner City Programmes
Mr. Tony Lloyd : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which are the inner city programmes his Department is carrying out ; what non-Government organisations are taking part in such programmes ; where each of these programmes is operating ; and on what date each one was started.
Mr. Moynihan [holding answer 12 March 1990] : Details of the Department of the Environment programmes which are directed towards inner city regeneration are set out in the annual report for 1988-89 "Renewing the
Column 192
Cities" which was published on 28 February. The Department took over responsibility for city action teams in December 1989. Information on CATs is set out in the report "People in Cities" also published on 28 February. Copies of both reports have been placed in the Library. They describe the important part which organisations in the business and voluntary sectors are playing, together with central Government, local authorities and the urban development corporations, in bringing about the revival of inner city areas. They also show where the programmes are operating. The dates when programmes, or organisations, were first established were as follows :Urban Development Corporations March 1981
City Grant May 1988
The Urban Programme 1968-69
Derelict Land Grant 1950
Enterprise Zones June 1981
Estate Action 1985-86
City Action Teams April 1985
Inner city revival is also promoted by DOE main programmes, such as the local authority housing investment programme and grants to housing associations through the Housing Corporation, and through other initiatives, such as simplified planning zones and land registers.
AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD
Milk Quota
Miss Emma Nicholson : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has for allocating the additional 1 per cent. of milk quota now available.
Mr. Gummer : We have been advised that the European Community Commission has formally approved our proposals for allocating the additional 1 per cent. of milk quota now available. These provide for quota to be allocated to the following categories of producer. The first comprises those with tribunal awards which have not yet been granted in full. Small developers will have their allocations made up to the full amount awarded initially subject only to abatement for the cuts totalling approximately 4 per cent. imposed on all producers since the tribunal awards were made. This will benefit producers in Scotland and Northern Ireland ; small developers in England and Wales have already been granted their full award. Unfulfilled exceptional hardship awards, which now remain only in Northern Ireland, will be dealt with on the same basis as small developers. Other development awards throughout the United Kingdom will be made up to a common level of around 77 per cent. of the initial allocation (after applying the abatement for across-the-board cuts) except in the minority of cases where a higher percentage of the award has already been granted. In the case of both development and exceptional hardship awards, quota will be allocated only to producers who have actually delivered milk during the period 1 April 1989 to 28 February 1990. This condition will help to ensure that quota goes to those milk producers who are most in need of it. The second category of producers comprises those who occupy a family -type holding and for whom milk production constitutes a significant activity. My intention here is to give extra help to the family farms that are significantly smaller than average. The best practicable way of targeting this group is by allocating quota to all
Column 193
producers holding under 200,000 litres of wholesale and direct sales quota. As with the developers and exceptional hardship cases, we shall exclude those who did not deliver milk in the first 11 months of this quota year. Also, since we are aiming at producers for whom milk production is a significant activity, those with under 20, 000 litres of quota will be excluded. Within these limits producers will be given an addition of just over 3 per cent. to their current wholesale allocation, including temporarily suspended quota subject to an overall ceiling of 200,000 litres.Allocations to family-type farms and to producers with outstanding tribunal awards will account for about 120 million of the 148.87 million litres available for distribution. In addition we intend to allocate a small share of the total to producers in the remoter parts of the less-favoured areas, that is, Arran, Bute, Coll, Gigha, Great Cumbrae, Islay, the Isles of Scilly, Kintyre south of Tarbert, Little Cumbrae, Orkney and Shetland. They will each receive an increase representing about 5 per cent. of their current wholesale quota. Finally, I have earmarked 22.5 million litres for new entrants. The intention would be to allocate quota on loan. Eventually quota used in this way would be recycled to assist further new entrants. The Commission has, however, raised legal objections to the idea of loaning quota and the matter has not yet been resolved. This will not delay the laying of a statutory instrument before Parliament within the next few days to enable the majority of the quota to be allocated before the end of the present quota year.
Salmonella
Mr. Moss : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the Government will respond to the progress report of the Agriculture Committee on salmonella in eggs ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Maclean : The Government have today presented to Parliament their response to the House of Commons
Column 194
Agriculture Committee's progress report on salmonella in eggs. The response welcomes the Agriculture Committee's review of the measures adopted to combat the salmonella problem and notes that the Committee has not recommended any change to the steps taken to protect public health other than in relation to imported eggs.Copies of the Government's response have been placed in the House Libraries.
Compound Feedstuffs
Mr. Kirkwood : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps have to be taken prior to animal feed manufacturers being permitted to sell proprietary compounds for feeding to farm animals like sheep and poultry.
Mr. Maclean [holding answer 5 March 1990] : Manufacturers of medicated animal feedingstuffs are required to register with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain and abide by a code of practice. The medicinal additives they incorporate must be licensed under medicines legislation.
Additionally all feedingstuffs manufacturers must take steps to ensure that compound feeds sold to farmers comply with the requirements of the Feedingstuffs Regulations 1988.
Green Currency
Mr. David Nicholson : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the green currency discrepancy for each EC member nation at the most recent available date.
Mr. Curry : The table shows the real monetary gap (RMG) for the main commodities in each member state as at 12 March 1990. This represents the percentage difference between the green and market rate of exchange used for agriculture.
Column 193
RMGs as at 12 March 1990 n.a.-not applicable.
Wheat and Sheepmeat
Mr. David Nicholson : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what is the green pound discrepancy in (a) percentage, (b) cash per unit at the beginning of each marketing year since 1980 for (i) wheat and (ii) sheepmeat ;
Column 194
(2) what it the United Kingdom intervention price for wheat and the guide price for sheepmeat for each marketing year since 1980 in (a) cash terms and (b) at 1990 prices.Mr. Curry : The information requested is supplied in the table :
Column 195
<1> Unseasonalised guide price (85 of basic price). <2> Percentage difference between the green and market rate used for agriculture. <3> Real monetary gap applied to the intervention price for common wheat and the guide price for sheepmeat. A positive sign indicates prices above, and a negative sign indicates prices below, the level obtained by using market instead of green rates of exchange. <4> Using implied GDP deflator at market prices. 1989-90 estimates based on 1989 Autumn Statement.
Horticulture
Mr. Barry Field : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has made to the European Commission on gas aid to horticultural growers in EC member countries.
Mr. Curry : The European Commission has recently decided to initiate legal proceedings against the Netherlands in respect of subsidised gas prices for Dutch glasshouse growers. We are giving the Commission full support in its efforts to ensure fair competition in the Community.
Mr. Barry Field : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received about gas aid to horticultural growers in EC member states.
Mr. Curry : Some representations have been received at official level. I am continuing to keep this area under careful review.
Organic Production
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress is being made to achieve common standards with other EEC countries for organic production systems ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Curry : In December last year the European Commission issued a proposal for a Council regulation on organic production. Discussions in the relevant Council working group commenced in January. In the view of Her Majesty's Government, the original draft was unsatisfactory in that it would not have provided adequate protection for consumers and contained features which were operationally impractical. There has, however, been some progress in the discussions and my Department is seeking to ensure that the regulation is compatible with the more fully developed standards set by the United Kingdom register of organic food standards (UKROFS).
Agrochemicals
Sir Richard Body : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what arrangements exist to ensure adequate training for those handling agrochemicals in
Column 196
agricultural production ; if such training assumes a minimum level of literacy and scientific knowledge ; and if he will make a statement.Mr. Curry : Formal training in the handling and use of pesticides is available both from the agricultural training board and from the county agricultural and horticultural colleges. For safety reasons, trainees are expected to be able to read and interpret the product label, but no specific scientific knowledge is required.
Organic Farming
Sir Richard Body : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what financial and other support he is making available for organic farming ; what estimate he has made of the increased employment resulting from organic farming methods ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Curry : I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Truro (Mr. Taylor) on 16 January 1990, Official Report, columns 215-16, in which I set out the wide range of support for organic farming currently available or being planned. It is too early to estimate the increased level of employment likely to result from these initiatives and from the increase in market demand. However, we are anxious that the agricultural industry should respond to the market and ensure that a growing share of that market is met by United Kingdom production.
Waste Incineration
Mr. Cryer : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many tonnes of waste will be incinerated at sea in 1990 ; whether the Government intend to curtail such incineration for all materials ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Curry : I refer the hon. Member to the reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Waveney (Mr. Porter) on 5 March, Official Report, column 489.
The amount of waste to be incinerated in 1990 is expected to be less than 6,000 tonnes.
Column 197
North Sea Dumping
Mr. Cryer : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations have been made regarding the proposed dumping of 50,000 tonnes of acid and other wastes into the sea off the north-east coast from other countries and United Kingdom organisations ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Curry : The Department has received a number of representations from some of the other contracting parties to the Oslo commission and from United Kingdom organisations about proposals to issue licences for the dumping of industrial wastes into the North sea.
In accordance with the requirements of the internationally agreed procedures in respect of the dumping of such wastes after 1989, we have submitted detailed information to the Oslo commission about the nature of the wastes concerned, the methods of dumping proposed, the tests carried out to confirm that such dumping would not pose any risk of harm to the marine environment and the work undertaken into alternative disposal methods. An Oslo commission working group on 14 February 1989 expressed its appreciation of the United Kingdom's efforts to phase out this dumping. As a result of these efforts to establish environmentally acceptable land- based methods for dealing with these wastes I was able on 2 February to announce my intention to terminate the licences for their disposal at sea by the end of 1992. Two licences would be extended into 1993 only if absolutely necessary and for the shortest possible part of that year.
Turkeys
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to answer the letter from the hon. Member for Caerphilly of 15 January concerning the welfare of turkeys at slaughter.
Mr. Curry : An answer to the hon. Member's letter of 15 January was dispatched on 12 March 1990.
Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research his Department has carried out to see whether calves' brains can be contaminated by bovine spongiform encephalopathy.
Mr. Curry : In studies carried out in relation to natural scrapie in sheep and goats, infectivity could not be detected anywhere, including the brain, in animals under 10 months of age. The probable cause of bovine spongiform encephalopathy was the feeding of ruminant-based protein, which included material from sheep with scrapie. Calves would not have been fed this material, since the practice was banned in July 1988. In addition, there is no evidence at present of cattle-to-cattle transmission, although we are conducting experiments to see whether this could occur. Field and experimental studies on BSE are in hand and include the assessment of the infectivity of different tissues.
Farmers and Farm Workers
Mr. Alex Carlile : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the reasons for the decline in the number of farmers and farm workers in Britain in 1989 ; and if he will make a statement.
Column 198
Mr. Curry [holding answer 9 March 1990] : The decline in the numbers of farmers and farm workers in 1989 reflects a continuation of a long-standing trend resulting from a range of factors--for example, continuing increases in labour productivity and technological development, the increased success of the European Community in tackling the problems of the CAP and, more recently, the need for tight financial disciplines throughout the economy as a whole. We shall, however, have to await the results of the June 1990 census before it will be possible to assess fully the extent of the decline in 1989.
DEFENCE
SSBN 005
Mr. Andrew F. Bennett : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement regarding the progress of the Intercept sonar for SSBN 005.
Mr. Neubert : Development of the Intercept sonar sub-system is largely complete, and it is expected that integration with the sonar suite will be accomplished on schedule.
Mr. Andrew F. Bennett : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when production units of the inboard sonar suite for SSBN 005 were delivered.
Mr. Neubert : Delivery of the SSBN 005 onboard sonar suite is not yet required under the shipbuilding programme. The equipment is available and the programme date will be met.
Heat Injury
Mr. Ashley : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) boards of inquiry, (b) disciplinary inquiries and (c) courts martial have taken place following the occurrence of heat-induced injuries or fatalities ; and in how many cases disciplinary action was taken.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : As regards boards of inquiry and disciplinary inquiries, the information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost and effort. As regards courts martial, I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Member for Romford (Mr. Neubert) on 15 January 1990, Official Report, column 121 . Since then one court martial has taken place following a case of heat induced injury.
Mr. Ashley : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will detail the action taken by him in the past two years to reduce the number of casualties from heat injury in the forces.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : Two defence council instructions have been issued : the first in December 1988, as a reminder of the risks of heat stress, heat exhaustion, heat stroke and similar conditions ; and the second last month, to provide detailed guidance on the prediction, prevention and treatment of such conditions. These have been disseminated throughout the three services and are an important means of maintaining and improving awareness of the risks of heat injury. In addition, as far as training is concerned, the content of courses is kept under review and, where appropriate, revised. Thus, for example, changes to
Column 199
the Army's combat fitness test instructions to enable commanding officers to exercise discretion over dress requirements in certain climatic conditions, as well as the planned increase in the time allowed for completion of the test, should reduce the risk of heat stress and other injuries.Mr. Ashley : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give the figures relating to episodes of injury or death attributable to excessive heat or insulation within the services for 1989.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The information requested is not yet available for 1989. It will be included in the services annual health tables which are published each summer.
Mr. Ashley : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will initiate an independent review of the heat-related injuries and deaths that occurred between 1978 and 1988 with a view to preventing such injuries in the future.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : No. All deaths from other than natural causes are investigated as a matter of course to consider whether such incidents could have been avoided.
Mr. Ashley : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the changes made in naval training following the heat-related injury to Lieutenant Simon Rowland.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : Following the injury to Lieutenant Simon Rowland, a number of new safety measures for the RN aircrew survival course have been introduced. Cellphones and radios have been purchased for use by staff on the course, and casualty evacuation procedures have been reviewed. First aid training is now being given to all instructors and the medical fitness category for the course has been reviewed. The format of the "forced march" or "battle run" element of the aircrew survival course has also been reviewed and the length of this element has been shortened.
Mr. Ashley : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to order an automatic court martial or disciplinary inquiry with a published report into every case of heat-related injury or death.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : No. In any such case it is the responsibility of the relevant service authority to determine what action would be appropriate, which will depend on the particular circumstances of the case.
Mr. Ashley : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will place in the Library (a) the defence council instruction issued on 23 December 1988 regarding the prevention of heat stroke and exhaustion and (b) the single service instructions that are referred to in the defence council instruction ;
(2) if he will place in the Library the existing regulations referred to in the letter of 6 November 1989 from the Under-Secretary of State to the right hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South regarding the prediction, prevention and treatment of heat injury ; whether these regulations are given to all training instructors ; and whether they were given to Lieutenant Gordon Smith late of the RN survival equipment school ;
(3) if he will place in the Library the separate instructions issued to commanding officers requiring them to take appropriate preventive measures that are referred to in the letter of 29 June 1988 about heat injuries from the Under-Secretary of State to the right hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South.
Column 200
Mr. Archie Hamilton : Although defence council instructions are internal management documents not normally intended for publication outside the Ministry of Defence and the services, I am arranging, exceptionally, for the instruction referred to by the right hon. Member to be placed in the Library. However, I do not consider the public interest would be served by the more general publication of internal instructions and regulations.
The practice regarding giving copies of regulations to individual instructors varies, the main consideration being that they should be readily available in a suitable form and that they should be read and understood by all concerned. All instructors in the Royal Navy have been given copies of the defence council instructions issued in December 1988, including Lieutenant Gordon Smith while he was an instructor at the RN survival equipment school.
Mr. Ashley : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish in the Official Report details of the clothing worn by Lieutenant Simon Rowland and his fellow trainees during the training exercise in the New Forest ; and what was the temperature during each day of the exercise.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : For the practical phase of the survival course Lt Rowland and his fellow trainees were wearing flying overalls, underpants, socks and boots. No headgear was worn. The temperature each day in the area during the practical phase of the course carried out in the New Forest is shown in the chart :
Ambient air temperatures for period 22-25 July
1989-local times
22 July |25C |30C |32C |27C
23 July |22C |28C |31C |29C
24 July |23C |29C |30C |28C
25 July |21C |25C |27C |26C
Source: Met Office, Southampton Airport.
Mr. Ashley : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will set up a study of the distribution of the 663 heat injuries between 1978 and 1988 to see if there are any instances of commanding officers having a number of injuries to men training under their command significantly greater than that likely to have occurred by chance.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : No. The information necessary to conduct such a study is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Ashley : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what independent medical advice he has received on the avoidability of heat injury or death.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : None. I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given to him on 15 January 1990, Official Report, column 121.
Mr. Ashley : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when it was decided to prepare the more detailed defence council instruction, referred to in the letter of 6 November 1989 from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the right hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South ; what external independent advice has been sought on the content ; when it will be finalised ; to whom it will be circulated ; if he will place a copy in the Library ; and if he will make a statement.
Column 201
Mr. Archie Hamilton : It was decided in May 1989 to issue a defence council instruction (DCI) which was to bring together the guidance already available in various instructions and publications. The new DCI covers all aspects of the prediction, prevention and treatment of heat injury. External advice was not sought as there was sufficient informed opinion within the services.The DCI was issued on 23 February 1990 and will be seen by all service personnel and appropriate civilian organisations within the MOD.
Although DCIs are internal management documents I am arranging, exceptionally, for this instruction to be placed in the Library of the House.
| Next Section
| Home Page |