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Consumer Credit Act 1974, sections 160(4) and 174(5).Consumer Protection Act 1987, section 38.
Control of Pollution Act 1974, section 94.
Data Protection Act 1984, sections 15, 19, 20 and schedule 1, paragraph 3.
Deep Sea Mining (Temporary Provisions) Act 1981, section 13. Diseases of Fish Act 1983, section 9.
Electricity Act 1989, section 57.
Employment Agencies Act 1973, section 9(4).
Employment and Training Act 1973, section 4(5).
Energy Act 1976, schedule 2, paragraph 7.
Energy Conservation Act 1981, section 20(8).
Estate Agents Act 1979, section 10.
European Communities Act 1972, sections 11(2) and 12.
Factories Act 1961, section 154.
Fair Trading Act 1973, sections 30(3) and 133.
Film Levy Finance Act 1981, section 8.
Finance Act 1969, section 58(6).
Finance Act 1989, section 182(8).
Financial Services Act 1986, part VIII.
Fire Precautions Act 1971, section 21.
Fisheries Act 1981, section 12.
Food Act 1984, sections 5(3) and 87(5).
Gas Act 1965, schedule 6, paragraph 9.
Gas Act 1986, section 42.
Harbours Act 1964, section 46.
Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, sections 27(4) and 28 Highways Act 1980, section 292(4).
Industrial Training Act 1982, section 6(2).
Insurance Companies Act 1982, section 47a.
Iron and Steel Act 1982, section 33.
Legal Aid Act 1988, section 38.
Local Government Finance Act 1982, section 30.
Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980, section 167 and schedule 20, part III.
Medicines Act 1968, section 118(2).
Merchant Shipping Act 1988, section 52(3).
Merchant Shipping (Liner Conferences) Act 1982, section 10(2). National Health Service Act 1977, paras 5-7 of schedule 11. Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act 1963, section 59. Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, section 98.
Population (Statistics) Act 1938, section 4(2).
Prices Act 1974, schedule, paragraph 12.
Public Health Act 1961, section 68.
Public Health (Control of Diseases) Act 1984, section 62(3). Race Relations Act 1976, section 52.
Radioactive Substances Act 1948, section 7.
Radioactive Substances Act 1960, section 13(3).
Rahabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, section 9.
Rent (Agriculture) Act 1976, section 30(4).
Restrictive Trade Practices Act 1976, section 41.
Rivers (Prevention of Pollution) Act 1961, section 12.
Road Traffic Regulations Act 1984, section 43.
Sea Fish Industry Act 1970, section 14(2).
Sex Discrimination Act 1975, section 61.
Social Security Act 1989, section 19 and schedule 2.
Statistics of Trade Act 1947, section 9.
Telecommunications Act 1984, section 101.
Town and Country Planning Act 1971, section 281(3).
Trade Descriptions Act 1968, section 28.
Transport Act 1968, section 87.
Value Added Tax Act 1983, section 44.
Water Act 1989, section 174.
Weights and Measures Act 1985, section 64 and 79(7).
Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949, sections 5, (6)(ii) and 15(4)(c). Provisions in Government Bills published in Session 1989-90 to date, which create offences of disclosure of certain kinds of information
Food Safety Bill, clause 33(7).
Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill, clause 37(5).
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WALES
A5 (Accidents)
Mr. Martyn Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many accidents were reported during the period January 1988 to December 1989 on the stretch of the A5 which passes through Clwyd.
Mr. Roberts : There were 150 personal injury accidents reported during the period January 1988 to December 1989 on the stretch of the A5 which passes through Clwyd. Figures for 1989 are provisional.
Consultancies
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will state (a) the target figure for consultancies per month in Wales under the Government's consultancy initiatives and (b) the spending on consultancy initiatives in Wales for (i) 1988-89 outturn, (ii) 1989-90 estimated outturn, (iii) 1990-91 plans, (iv) 1991-92 plans and (v) 1992-93 plans.
Mr. Peter Walker : Formal targets are not set on a regional basis, but take-up of the consultancy initiatives in Wales has consistently been above the level that would be expected from the proportion of eligible firms in Wales. Expenditure on completed consultancies in 1988-89 was £343,000 ; in 1989-90 the latest figures available (to January) show expenditure at £1,622,000. (A regional analysis for total expenditure on consultancy initiatives, to include evaluation, administration and promotions is not available). It is not possible to provide a regional breakdown of provision for future years as the scheme is demand-led.
Workplace Nurseries
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the number of workplaces providing nursery care and the number of employees using such facilities ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Grist : Information on which to base reliable estimates is not available centrally. This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Welsh Craft Initiative
Mr. Gwilym Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the progress of the Welsh craft initiative.
Mr. Peter Walker : The craft initiative was launched in early 1988. Crafts business advisers have been appointed
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and have contacted more than 1,000 Welsh businesses to tell them when help is available. The "Data Crefft" information system for buyers and producers of crafts in Wales is in place and there have been craft initiative stands at all Welsh fairs. Showcases for Welsh craft products have also been set up at the national folk museum (St. Fagans), at the David Morgan department store in Cardiff and at the Wales Centre in Piccadilly, London. There has also been a strong Welsh presence at major trade fairs outside the Principality. A series of marketing and publicity weekends for craftspeople is in progress. An evaluation of the campaign's impact will be carried out once the final year, which starts on 1 April 1990, is complete. I am delighted at the progress that has been made in the improvement of both marketing and quality control.Radioactive Dust
Mr. Alex Carlile : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what assessment he has made of the danger to Towyn residents of contamination by radioactive dust left behind by the floodwater ; and if he will make a statement ;
(2) what proposals he has to clean up radioactive dust left behind by floodwater in Towyn earlier this year ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Grist : Government scientists have visited Towyn and have measured external gamma dose rates, and the radioactivity in the sediment left by the floodwater. The gamma dose rates were indistinguishable from those expected due to natural radiation. The doses of radioactivity which could result from the radioactivity in the sediment were within the normal variations in the natural background exposure to the United Kingdom population.
The levels of radioactivity in the sediment are such that no special precautions are required for clean-up of the area or disposal of the sediment.
The impact of the radioactivity in the sediment on livestock is still being assessed.
School Meals
Mr. Battle : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a table showing the expenditure on school meals for each year from 1978-79 to the latest date available, in current and constant prices.
Mr. Roberts : Local authority current expenditure on school catering for each year since 1979-80 is given in the table. Information for 1978-79 is not available. Catering includes both school meals and milk. The school meals element is not available separately.
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|c|School catering current expenditure|c|
£ thousands
Local authority |1979-80 |1980-81 |1981-82 |1982-83 |1983-84 |1984-85 |1985-86 |1986-87 |1987-88 |1988-89 |1989-90<1>
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash prices
Clwyd |3,317 |2,995 |2,883 |3,262 |3,684 |3,688 |3,734 |4,006 |4,256 |2,984 |3,751
Dyfed |3,700 |2,818 |3,086 |3,318 |3,509 |3,016 |3,001 |3,267 |3,531 |3,069 |4,416
Gwent |3,969 |4,110 |4,406 |4,846 |4,925 |5,182 |5,150 |5,691 |5,577 |4,260 |4,582
Gwynedd |2,414 |2,255 |2,225 |2,418 |2,373 |2,481 |2,572 |2,610 |2,725 |2,557 |2,462
Mid Glamorgan |5,807 |5,432 |5,595 |6,281 |6,742 |8,090 |7,566 |7,596 |7,417 |5,775 |7,301
Powys |1,344 |1,165 |1,156 |1,494 |1,537 |1,391 |1,167 |1,111 |1,091 |1,053 |1,179
South Glamorgan |2,321 |1,780 |1,947 |2,065 |2,208 |2,389 |2,482 |2,119 |2,138 |1,882 |2,318
West Glamorgan |3,191 |2,879 |3,006 |3,324 |2,768 |3,460 |2,802 |2,867 |2,841 |2,859 |2,904
|------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |-------
Total Wales |26,061 |23,435 |24,303 |27,008 |27,747 |29,699 |28,474 |29,267 |29,575 |24,439 |28,912
1989-90 prices<2>
Clwyd |6,648 |5,072 |4,447 |4,692 |5,063 |4,830 |4,641 |4,816 |4,856 |3,178 |3,751
Dyfed |7,415 |4,773 |4,760 |4,774 |4,823 |3,950 |3,730 |3,927 |4,028 |3,268 |4,416
Gwent |7,956 |6,960 |6,796 |6,972 |6,769 |6,785 |6,400 |6,841 |6,362 |4,537 |4,582
Gwynedd |4,838 |3,820 |3,432 |3,478 |3,262 |3,249 |3,196 |3,137 |3,108 |2,723 |2,462
Mid Glamorgan |11,638 |9,199 |8,630 |9,036 |9,267 |10,593 |9,403 |9,130 |8,461 |6,150 |7,301
Powys |2,693 |1,973 |1,783 |2,149 |2,113 |1,822 |1,450 |1,335 |1,245 |1,121 |1,179
South Glamorgan |4,652 |3,015 |3,003 |2,971 |3,035 |3,129 |3,085 |2,547 |2,439 |2,004 |2,318
West Glamorgan |6,395 |4,876 |4,637 |4,782 |3,805 |4,530 |3,483 |3,446 |3,241 |3,045 |2,904
|------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |-------
Total Wales |52,234 |39,689 |37,488 |38,855 |38,138 |38,889 |35,388 |35,179 |33,741 |26,028 |28,912
<1> Cash price budgets.
<2> Deflated using GDP deflator.
Conwy Tunnels
Mr. Roy Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the original estimated cost of the work on the Conwy tunnels ; and what is the current estimate of the total cost.
Mr. Roberts : In 1986 when the formal decision to proceed was made and the main contract let, the estimated full cost of the scheme was £158.4 million of which the main contract comprised £102 million. The balance of £56.4 million comprised land, advance works, design and supervision costs.
The latest estimate of the total cost of the scheme is £170.8 million, as set out in the Welsh Office commentary on public expenditure in Wales 1990-91 to 1992-93, published in March.
Mr. Roy Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what date work commenced on the Conwy tunnels ; what was to be the original date of completion ; and what is now the estimated date of completion.
Mr. Roberts : Work commenced on Conwy crossing on 3 November 1986 and the projected date for completion at the time was January 1991. However, the contract date for completion is currently August 1991.
DEFENCE
Nuclear Submarines
Mr. John Evans : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on faults reported in the cooling circuits of British nuclear submarines and their effect on the operation of the nuclear-powered submarine fleet.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answers that I gave him on 5 and 12 February, Official Report, columns 460 and 117 respectively. The programme of inspections of our nuclear-powered submarines is progressing.
Meteorological Office
Mr. Tim Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress towards establishing the Meteorological Office as an executive agency.
Mr. Tom King : I am pleased to announce that my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence Procurement today visited the Meteorological Office in Bracknell to mark its launch as the first executive agency in the Ministry of Defence.
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The Meteorological Office is a familiar part of our national life. As the United Kingdom's national weather service, it also plays a leading role in the international structure on which modern weather forecasting depends. It has established, over its 135-year history, an unrivalled reputation in its field. Its staff include some of the world's foremost experts in climatic prediction and research. Utilising these resources, one of the office's key aims will be to provide timely and authoritative advice on climatic change to Ministers nationally and internationally through the auspices of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climatic Change.Over the next five years I will be setting the agency a range of targets to ensure that it delivers progressive improvements in the quality and efficiency of the weather-related services it provides to defence, civil aviation, commercial customers and the general public. The initial targets I have set for the Meteorological Office during the period 1990-95 are :
to devise and implement a system of performance measurement in each of the major activity areas based on output quantity, quality and timeliness and on input costs, to enable publication by 31 March 1991 of targets which require improvements to efficiency that will make a significant contribution to the efficiency targets of the Ministry of Defence as a whole ;
to improve the efficiency of commercial services, measured as the ratio between revenue earned and the cost of provision of such services ;
to reduce by 15 per cent. the standard-error of 48-hour forecasts of mid- atmosphere pressure fields over the North Atlantic and North West Europe ;
to achieve measurable improvement in the quality of public warnings and services to MOD and the CAA, within available resources ; to achieve measurable improvement in the productivity of operational support services through the use of new technology, automation and the integration of functions ;
to reduce net operating costs in real terms by 1 per cent. in 1990-91 and to continue to achieve this performance with the aim of doubling it by the end of the period ;
to achieve a 6 per cent. per annum cumulative increase in the uptake of meteorological services as measured by revenue generated from commercial services offered to the public, commerce and industry, exclusive of services to the CAA ; and
to achieve a 10 per cent. per annum cumulative increase in the contribution of commercial service revenue to offsetting core costs.
NATO Nuclear Planning Group
Mr. Caborn : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what matters he expects to discuss at the next NATO nuclear planning group meeting.
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Mr. Archie Hamilton : My right hon. Friend will discuss a wide range of current nuclear issues with his NPG colleagues.German Unification
Mr. Barry Field : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will next be meeting his NATO counterparts to discuss the defence and security implications of a united Germany.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : My right hon. Friend will next be meeting his NATO counterparts at the nuclear planning group meeting in Canada on 9-10 May.
Low Flying
Mr. Jopling : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what monitoring arrangements exist to assess the frequency of low-level aircraft training flights in those areas of the country where these exercises frequently occur.
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