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Mrs. Gillian Shephard : The information requested is in the table.
|Number of |Proportion of
|individual |registered
|chargepayers |chargepayers
|receiving |per cent.
|rebates (000s)
------------------------------------------------------------
1989-90 |1,150 |30
Source:Estimated number of recipients derived from local
authority rate rebate and community charge benefit caseload
returns. Housing stock figures and community charge
register information from Scottish office.
|Number of |Proportion of
|individual |registered
|chargepayers |chargepayers
|receiving |per cent.
|rebates (000s)
------------------------------------------------------------
1989-90 |1,150 |30
Source:Estimated number of recipients derived from local
authority rate rebate and community charge benefit caseload
returns. Housing stock figures and community charge
register information from Scottish office.
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Mr. Maxton : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will provide a table for the following household types : (a) single pensioner, (b) other single adult, (c) two adults, (d) three or more adults and (e) all households listing the following detail : (i) the number receiving rate bills, (ii) the total value of their gross rate bills, (iii) the numbers entitled to rebates and (iv) the total value of rebates in 1987-88 and 1988-89 in Scotland.Mrs. Gillian Shephard [pursuant to her reply, 19 March 1990, c. 402] : I regret that a correction is necessary. The estimated numbeof ratepayers in Scotland receiving rate rebates in 1988-89 is 640, 000 and not 688,000 as shown in the published table.
Disability
Mr. Alfred Morris : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what response he has received to "The Way Ahead : Benefits for Disabled People" from the Disability Alliance ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Scott : The Disability Alliance has sent me a written response and was represented at a meeting that I held on 5 April with the Disability Benefits Consortium to discuss "The Way Ahead." We shall give careful consideration to all the alliance's comments in carrying forward the detailed work on our proposals.
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he has given any consideration to the introduction of a basic minimum income for all disabled people, irrespective of how their disability arose ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Scott : There is a number of factors which have led us to conclude that a single disability income scheme is not the right course of action. First, we have aimed to provide a more simple and coherent system of financial help for disabled people. A single scheme which strived to cover a whole range of specific needs would be significantly more complicated than existing benefits, both for claimants to understand and for doctors and staff to adjudicate and administer. Secondly, by introducing the sort of points-related benefit suggested by some commentators, an unacceptably high number of people would stand to lose benefit entitlement. One of our major objectives is to provide a system which can get help quickly and effectively to those most in need.
Residential Homes
Mr. Meacher : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many elderly persons in private residential or nursing homes who are in receipt of income support have fees which are below the income support limits by : (a) less than £5 a week, (b) £5 to £10 per week, (c) £10 to £20 per week, (d) £20 to £30 per week, (e) £30 to £40 per week, (f) £40 to £50 per week, (g) £50 to £60 per week, (h) £60 to £70 per week, (i) £70 to £80 per week, and (j) over £80 per week ; what percentage each of these totals is of (i) all elderly residents in these houses and (ii) all residents in receipt of income support ; and if he will provide information so far as possible broken down between residential and nursing homes.
Mrs. Gillian Shephard : The information is not available. Data is collected on a sample basis, the size of which precludes the provision of reliable estimates in the form requested.
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Vibration White Finger
Mr. Frank Field : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the number of claims submitted on vibration white finger to the two local Birkenhead offices ; and if he will detail the number of staff hours so far involved in processing these claims.
Mr. Scott : A total of 1,141 new claims and 835 review applications have been received to date by the two social security offices serving the Birkenhead area. Details of staff hours expended on these particular claims are not available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
WALES
Surplus School Places
Mr. Gareth Wardell : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish for each county in Wales, the number of surplus places in (a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools ; and if he will give details of the criteria he uses to ascertain surplus place numbers.
Mr. Roberts : The table shows the total number of surplus places in primary and secondary schools in each county based on the latest available figures received from each local education authority. The criteria recommended for determining the capacities of schools are set out in Welsh Office circular 20/88, "Educational Quality in Wales : The Response to Falling School Rolls" for primary schools, whilst for secondary schools they are in Welsh Office circular 47/88, "Admission of Pupils to County and Voluntary Schools". Copies of both circulars are in the Library of the House.
|c|Surplus Places in Maintained Schools in Wales|c| County |Primary |Secondary|TOTAL -------------------------------------------------------- Clwyd |9,964 |2,493 |12,907 Dyfed |9,671 |1,949 |11,620 Gwent |11,159 |9,836 |20,696 Gwynedd |4,928 |3,834 |8,762 Mid Glamorgan |9,683 |4,274 |13,957 Powys |3,194 |2,525 |5,719 South Glamorgan |6,996 |6,935 |13,929 West Glamorgan |2,021 |11,218 |13,239 Wales |57,616 |43,212 |100,828
Orthodontic Surgeons
Mr. Gareth Wardell : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish in the Official Report a list of those health authorities in Wales which employ the services of an orthodontic consultant surgeon.
Mr. Grist : All district health authorities in Wales employ the services of an orthodontic consultant surgeon.
Interest Rates
Mr. Gareth Wardell : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many representations he has received, since occupying his present post, on the effect on new investment of high interest rates.
Mr. Peter Walker : Although precise figures are not available, I have received very few representations about the effect of interest rates on new investment.
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Health Service
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many general practitioners and general practitioner practices in each county in Wales have indicated an interest in becoming holders of a practice budget.
Mr. Grist : The information requested is shown in the table :
Family practitioner |Number of |Number of
committee | general |GP practices
|practitioners
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Clwyd |34 |6
Dyfed |27 |6
Gwent |12 |3
Gwynedd |4 |1
Mid Glamorgan |53 |9
Powys |14 |3
South Glamorgan |26 |5
West Glamorgan |47 |9
FPC areas are co-terminous with counties.
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the contribution that will be made by charitable giving and fund-raising towards the deficit projected by the South Glamorgan health authority during 1990-91.
Mr. Grist : My right hon. Friend has made no such estimates. He would not expect the authority to rely upon donations to meet any part of the deficit which it is currently projecting, since it would clearly be unwise to become dependent upon a source of funding which may not be recurrent. Donations can be of considerable assistance in funding developments which might not otherwise be given priority by the authority within its modified revenue and capital allocations. However, they should not be used in substitution for firm budgetary control.
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his policy on the extent of the contribution made by charitable donations and fund-raising events to the funding of the Health Service in Wales.
Mr. Grist : My right hon. Friend and I welcome the voluntary and charitable contributions which members of the public and organisations wish to make to health authorities. Sometimes such gifts are associated with the funding of a specific service or facilities and on other occasions they are not. In each case it is a private matter between the health authority and the giver. Such arrangements are not covered by any central guidelines and have not been the subject of departmental initiative.
In determining health authority spending allocations voluntary funding and charitable donations are not considered and no central record of such gifts is maintained.
Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many cattle have been confirmed as having bovine spongiform encephalopathy in each county of Wales for each year since the disease was discovered.
Mr. Peter Walker : The number of confirmed cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy in each county in Wales during 1987, 1988, 1989 and 1990 (to 13 April) was :
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Number of cases
County |1987 |1988 |1989 |<1>1990
--------------------------------------------------------
Clwyd |0 |13 |58 |31
Dyfed |8 |64 |212 |111
Mid Glamorgan |0 |5 |15 |3
South Glamorgan |0 |8 |29 |3
West Glamorgan |0 |1 |3 |0
Gwent |0 |20 |60 |32
Gwynedd |0 |7 |26 |8
Powys |0 |13 |56 |31
<1> (to 13 April).
There were no cases reported in 1986.
Local Government Finance
Mr. Malcolm Bruce : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish in the Official Report in relation to each local authority in Wales and the average for all local authorities in Wales for the financial year 1990-91 (a) the level of net expenditure per head of population, (b) the level of net expenditure per head of population as set out in the Government's assessment of expenditure need, (c) the level of income per head of population from personal, standard and collective community charges, (d) the income from revenue support grant per head of population, (e) the income from non-domestic rates per head of population and (f) the income from other sources per head of population.
Mr. Peter Walker : The information requested is given in the table :
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|c|Pounds per head in 1990-91<1>|c|
Local Authority |Net |Standard |Income from |Revenue |Non-domestic |Other
|expenditure<2> |spending |community |support |rates share |income<4>
|assessment |charge<3> |grant
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alyn and Deeside |127 |123 |30 |64 |32 |102
Colwyn |129 |120 |36 |61 |32 |182
Delyn |132 |113 |38 |54 |32 |329
Glyndwr |130 |111 |50 |52 |32 |305
Rhuddlan |153 |130 |50 |71 |32 |302
Wrexham Maelor |133 |124 |37 |65 |32 |266
Carmarthen |111 |126 |10 |67 |32 |n/a
Ceredigion |139 |134 |16 |75 |32 |n/a
Dinefwr |108 |118 |17 |59 |32 |n/a
Llanelli |138 |143 |30 |82 |32 |n/a
Preseli Pembrokeshire |133 |131 |16 |72 |32 |246
South Pembrokeshire |123 |143 |7 |84 |32 |381
Blaenau Gwent |204 |168 |51 |109 |32 |579
Islwyn |169 |158 |38 |99 |32 |189
Monmouth |124 |110 |36 |51 |32 |298
Newport |173 |162 |61 |100 |32 |467
Torfaen |154 |141 |40 |82 |32 |163
Aberconwy |149 |127 |49 |68 |32 |219
Arfon |163 |147 |43 |88 |32 |250
Dwyfor |180 |155 |59 |96 |32 |250
Meirionnydd |173 |134 |57 |75 |32 |229
Ynys Mon |194 |140 |75 |81 |32 |437
Cynon Valley |186 |170 |42 |108 |32 |168
Merthyr Tydfil |194 |187 |36 |126 |32 |547
Ogwr |158 |142 |43 |83 |32 |200
Rhondda |224 |199 |41 |138 |32 |504
Rhymney Valley |160 |138 |47 |78 |32 |n/a
Taff Ely |138 |141 |24 |82 |32 |n/a
Brecknock |131 |126 |35 |67 |32 |228
Montgomeryshire |128 |113 |18 |54 |32 |198
Radnorshire |111 |113 |25 |54 |32 |270
Cardiff |191 |143 |75 |84 |32 |272
Vale of Glamorgan |119 |123 |23 |64 |32 |n/a
Port Talbot |163 |159 |31 |100 |32 |170
Lliw Valley |118 |126 |19 |67 |32 |n/a
Neath |196 |138 |21 |79 |32 |369
Swansea |205 |174 |48 |115 |32 |301
Clwyd |764 |703 |213 |387 |171 |205
Dyfed |779 |756 |168 |440 |171 |167
Gwent |755 |731 |169 |416 |171 |227
Gwynedd |769 |752 |161 |436 |171 |282
Mid Glamorgan |807 |786 |166 |471 |171 |229
Powys |842 |838 |146 |522 |171 |n/a
South Glamorgan |789 |772 |167 |456 |171 |184
West Glamorgan |802 |750 |205 |434 |171 |191
Average Wales |944 |897 |218 |521 |203 |n/a
<1> For consistency, the population denominator used throughout the table is the relevant population. This is defined in the
Distribution of Non-Domestic Rates (Relevant Population) Report for Wales. Note that this definition excludes those aged under 18
years.
<2> Provisional budgeted net revenue expenditure as reported by local authorities.
<3> In the case of districts, the transfer from the collection fund; in the case of counties, the aggregate of precepts on the
relevant charging authorities' collection funds.
<4> The provisional estimated income from specific and supplementary grants and from sales, fees, charges and other income. Note that
these amounts are not included in net expenditure.
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Flooding
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what action he intends to take to avert flooding in the reenlands of south Gwent ;
(2) if he will calculate the likelihood of a major flood in the Peterstone- Wentlooge and St. Brides areas of Gwent in the event of a tidal surge ;
(3) what reports he has received of the overtopping of the sea defences in south Gwent, and the flooding in Newport and Caerleon during the recent storms ; and if he will make a statement ; (4) if he will make an assessment of the expected rise in sea levels in the Severn estuary as a result of global warming and its effect on sea and river defences ;
(5) whether he has received any representations from the National Rivers Authority and other bodies on action that may be required to improve the sea walls in the Peterstone-Wentlooge and St. Brides areas of Gwent to reduce the risk of flooding.
Mr. Grist : There will always be some risk of a major flood in the Peterstone-Wentlooge and St. Brides areas of Gwent during extreme events.
Under section 136 of the Water Act 1989 the National Rivers Authority has a duty to exercise a general supervision over all matters relating to flood defence. The Department is aware that overtopping of sea defences occurred in south Gwent and that there was flooding in Newport and Caerleon during the recent storms. No representations have been received on action that may be required to improve sea walls in the area specified.
Current estimates suggest that mean sea levels are likely to be between 25 and 40 cm higher by the year 2050. It is not possible to establish with any degree of certainty the degree of sea level rise on a local basis. The increased funding that is being provided by the Department for sea defence schemes is intended to build up the programme to enable defences to withstand the currently expected risk.
Environmentally Sensitive Areas
Mr. Geraint Howells : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent representations he has received from the National Farmers Union of Wales in respect of the operation and level of payments of the ESA scheme ; and if he will make a statement.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Cambodia
Mr. Frank Field : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he is yet in a position to publish the report resulting from the recent United Kingdom mission investigating the political situation in Cambodia ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Sainsbury : I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office to the hon. Member for Cynon Valley (Mrs. Clwyd) on 31 January.
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Iraq
Mr. Cryer : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current position relating to arms sales to Iraq ; what agreements or treaties prohibit such exports ; and what routine measures are taken to enforce compliance by British manufacturers.
Mr. Waldegrave : Exports of defence-related material to both Iran and Iraq are governed by the guidelines announced by the then Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in the House on 29 October 1985. These are applied on a case-by-case basis in the light of prevailing circumstances, including the ceasefire and developments in the peace negotiations. Under the nuclear non-proliferation treaty we control the export of sensitive nuclear-related material and technology. As a member of the missile technology control regime, we control exports of missile- related material and technology. Our export controls are implemented under the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1989. All export licence applications are given the most careful scrutiny.
Libya
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his latest assessment of the capability of the Rabta chemical plant in Libya to produce chemical warfare agents.
Mr. Waldegrave : We have no doubt that the Rabta plant is intended to produce chemical weapons on a large scale. It remains unclear what has been the effect of the reported fire on 14 March.
TRANSPORT
Channel Tunnel
6. Mr. Geraint Howells : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the progress of the channel tunnel.
Mr. Portillo : The channel tunnel is a private sector project. I understand that more than 40 per cent. of tunnelling has been completed and is now progressing at record levels.
44. Mr. Gow : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what rate of return he expects will be secured by British Rail on its investment to be undertaken as a result of the prospective opening of the channel tunnel.
Mr. Portillo : The real rate of return on British Rail's investment for channel tunnel services is expected to be at least 8 per cent.
52. Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received regarding the channel tunnel link and the site of the second London terminal.
Mr. Portillo : The Department has received a large number of such representations.
53. Mr. Matthew Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations his Department has received regarding channel tunnel links with Cornwall.
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Mr. Portillo : I have received a number of representations about channel tunnel links with Cornwall.Mr. Fearn : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what evacuation procedures Eurotunnel has designed to ensure that people who have impaired hearing or impaired eyesight can be quickly evacuated in the event of fire ;
(2) what tests there have been to examine the effects of a high-speed derailment in the channel tunnel ;
(3) what consideration he has given to the conclusions of the intergovernmental commission and the Channel Tunnel Safety Authority on segregation of passengers from light vehicles, passenger cars and coaches from LPG ;
(4) if he has any plans to increase the time fire doors on the shuttle rakes are required to resist fire to match the time Eurotunnel is given to rescue passengers from a train stranded in the channel tunnel ; and if he will make a statement ;
(5) if he has set any criteria for the numbers of drivers required to be present at all times on the two locomotives with which each train using the channel tunnel is to be equipped ;
(6) how many evacuees from a carriage carrying passengers not segregated from their vehicles a neighbouring carriage with 50 cm between each vehicle in it could accommodate ; and what projections he has made of how long it would take to transfer the passengers from one carriage to another in such circumstances ;
(7) what criteria he has laid down for the time taken to evacuate a large coach full of people in smoke ; whether he has any plans to vary the criteria where large numbers of elderly or handicapped people are carried ; and if he will make a statement ;
(8) what reports his Department has studied into the effects of a high- speed derailment in the channel tunnel and the safety of passengers travelling in train carriages and the safety of passengers travelling in their cars with full fuel tanks ;
(9) if he will make a statement on the conclusions of the Channel Tunnel Safety Authority's report "Non-segregation of Drivers and Passengers from their Vehicles" ;
(10) if the service tunnel of the channel tunnel will be able to be used to evacuate passengers safely at the same time as it is being used to deploy rescue teams and emergency services to the scene of an incident.
Mr. Portillo : I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave to the hon. Member for Leicester, East (Mr Vaz) on 8 January, Official Report, column 464, and to my hon. Friend the Member for Hastings and Rye (Mr Warren) on 22 January, Official Report, column 491. Approval of Eurotunnel's proposed designs and operating procedures is a matter for the Channel Tunnel Intergovernmental Commission which is advised on safety matters by the independent Channel Tunnel Safety Authority.
The safety authority has now published its report reviewing the principal factors on which it based its advice to the
intergovernmental commission on the non-segregation of drivers and passengers from their vehicles. A copy has been placed in the Library of the House. The report refers to the authority's view that drivers and passengers should not be allowed to travel in vehicles containing or carrying LPG. With regard to the effects of a high-speed derailment in the tunnel, the report records
Column 44
the authority's stipulation that Eurotunnel should carry out a special study of the behaviour of rolling stock under accident conditions. I understand that the authority is discussing with Eurotunnel the exact nature of the further tests required. Eurotunnel's operating rules will have to cover matters such as the number of train drivers required to be present on the locomotives and the evacuation procedures for passengers, including the elderly and those with disabilities. Under the concession agreement, Eurotunnel is required to submit these rules for intergovernmental commission approval. When it does so, it will be for the safety authority to advise on whether the proposals are acceptable. Section 19 of the Channel Tunnel Act 1987 requires Eurotunnel to obtain from the intergovernmental commission a certificate stating that the commission is satisfied with Eurotunnel's code of practice on the conveyance of disabled persons.Mr. Trotter : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he now expects to receive from British Rail its investment proposals for the trains to be used for the through passenger services to be introduced from the continent to the north of Britain.
Mr. Portillo : I understand that negotiations on the price of the trains are continuing and that BR now intends to submit its proposals in the summer.
Roll on/Roll off Ferries
8. Mr. Janner : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he proposes to take powers to require improvements in the design of roll on/roll off ferries.
Mr. McLoughlin : My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport already has such powers by virtue of the Merchant Shipping Act 1979. On 2 April we announced the results of a Department of Transport- sponsored research programme into ways of improving the safety of ro-ro passenger ferries. This work will have significant implications for developments in ferry design throughout the world, and we have already taken steps to ensure its full consideration at the International Maritime Organisation next month.
Disabled People
13. Mr. Wallace : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he plans any further measures to promote improved access to means of transport by disabled people.
Mr. Atkins : Our plans are set out comprehensively in the document, "Transport and Disability : a Statement of Aims and Priorities".
36. Mr. Tom Clarke : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to improve transport facilities for people with disabilities.
Mr. Atkins : Our plans are set out in "Transport and Disability : a Statement of Aims and Priorities".
We are seeking to make public transport easier to use including development of wheelchair access. We are working with vehicle designers and manufacturers to influence car design and control modifications, so as to increase opportunities for personal mobility for even the most severely disabled people.
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We are also developing guidelines on design for pedestrian areas to help elderly and disabled people.Electrification
15. Mr. Livsey : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has received for further electrification of the British Rail network.
Mr. Portillo : In the last two years alone, we have approved a further four electrification schemes for British Rail. We would welcome any further proposals from British Rail which meet its investment criteria.
50. Mr. McAllion : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his estimate of the cost of electrifying the east coast rail line north of Edinburgh.
Mr. Portillo : It is for British Rail to estimate the cost of any electrification schemes which it wishes to propose.
Traffic Congestion (London)
16. Mr. Bernie Grant : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he now intends to spend the £3.7 billion allocated to the road building plans for London on measures which will help to reduce congestion in the capital.
Mr. Parkinson : No financial provision was made for schemes recommended by consultants, so their rejection does not make funds available to spend on other measures. Investment of more than £6 billion is already planned to improve the transport systems that serve London.
32. Ms. Ruddock : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a further statement about his plans to reduce the current levels of traffic congestion in central London.
Mr. Atkins : We are planning to start a red route pilot scheme from Highgate to Commercial road in the summer. Discussions with the local authorities are under way and there will be consultation with residents and traders. We shall also be consulting on the legislation to implement the proposals in "Traffic in London", which will be brought forward at the earliest opportunity.
33. Mr. Cox : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has for the introduction of traffic-calming measures in London.
Mr. Atkins : Traffic-calming measures in London are most appropriate to local roads, which are the responsibility of the local authorities. My Department will consider grant where there are safety benefits. We will be discussing with the authorities concerned any proposals they may have for appropriate measures associated with red routes and the modest trunk road improvements we are proposing following consultation on the London assessment studies.
London Regional Transport
19. Mr. John Marshall : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about investment in London Regional Transport since 1986.
Mr. Portillo : Investment by London Regional Transport has increased by 50 per cent. in real terms since 1985-86 to £425 million in 1989- 90. Over the next three years it will double again.
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31. Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will set performance targets for the standard of service offered by London Regional Transport.
Mr. Portillo : I have already done so. I refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Fulham (Mr. Carrington) on 20 December at column 280.
Horne Report
20. Mr. Corbett : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received seeking early implementation of the Horne report.
Mr. Atkins : We have received many representations from hon. Members and others seeking implementation of the Horne report's recommendations for control of public utilities' street works.
MV Marine
21. Mr. McAvoy : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the marine accident investigation branch has yet received a copy of the Bahamian authorities' report into the loss of the MV Marine ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. McLoughlin : The marine accident investigation branch has not yet received a copy of the Bahamian authorities' report into the loss of the MV Marine. The sad loss of this vessel, and her six British crew, was debated in this House on 27 March in an Adjournment debate initiated by my hon. Friend the Member for Tynemouth (Mr. Trotter).
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