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Written Answers to Questions
Thursday 3 May 1990
TRANSPORT
Vehicles
Mr. Steinberg : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his latest estimate of the number of private and commercial vehicles expected to be on the roads in 1990, 1995 and 1999.
Mr. Atkins : My Department's low and high forecasts of the number of privately and commercially owned cars on the road are :
|Million
------------------------------
<1>1990 |19.9-20.0
1995 |22.1-23.1
1999 |23.7-25.5
<1> Average for year.
Forecasts are not made for other vehicle types.
Balloon Flights
Mr. Frank Cook : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the carriage of passengers by hot air balloons is a recognised method of carriage as defined and regulated by the Civil Aviation Authority in schedule 1 to the Air Navigation Order 20, November 1989, pursuant to the Civil Aviation Act 1982 ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. McLoughlin : Hot air balloons are classified in schedule 1 to the Air Navigation Order as a sub-group of aircraft, so they may be registered in the United Kingdom and flown for purposes specified under the order, including the carriage of passengers.
To carry fare-paying passengers (other than in circumstances defined in the order as being private flights) a balloon must be certificated by the Civil Aviation Authority in the transport category (passenger) as set out in schedule 3 to the order, the operator must hold an air operator's certificate and the pilot must hold a valid professional balloon pilot's licence.
There are currently 43 hot air balloons certificated in the transport category (passenger) in the United Kingdom, and 27 air operator's certificates have been granted.
A6(M) Stockport Bypass
Mr. Tom Arnold : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will consider using the money saved by providing fewer than eight lanes for the A6(M) Stockport north-south bypass to lower the motorway alignment.
Mr. Atkins : The proposed motorway for much of its length would be significantly lower than the adjacent ground level. A further lowering of the alignment could
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not be justified. It would require more land, increase considerably the amount of surplus soil to be disposed of and cost some £6 million more.Radioactive Material
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Southwark and Bermondsey, Official Report, 26 April, column 265, if he will estimate how many flights were carrying (a) medical isotopes, (b) reactor fuel and (c) radioactive material for military purposes ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. McLoughlin : Of the approximately 8,000 flights per year which carry radioactive materials, I understand that over 99 per cent. carry isotopes for medical and industrial use. Radioactive materials transported for military purposes are a matter for the Ministry of Defence.
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the Radioactive Substance (Carriage by Road) (Great Britain) Regulations apply to the transportation of radioactive material for military purposes ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Atkins : The Secretary of State for Defence is the competent authority in his own right for the transport of radioactive materials for military purposes. The Ministry of Defence uses containers which are designed, manufactured and tested in complete conformity with the appropriate International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) transport regulations.
Shipping
Mr. Spearing : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the proportion of exports from and imports to the United Kingdom, excluding ferry operations, carried in British registered ships ; and what approximate proportion of ships engaged in ferry services to and from the continent are registered in United Kingdom ports.
Mr. McLoughlin [pursuant to his reply, 2 May 1990, c. 549] : About half the ships engaged in ferry services to and from the continent are United Kingdom-registered vessels.
NATIONAL FINANCE
Business Expansion Schemes
Mr. Anthony Coombs : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will mount a full investigation into the delays by the Board of Inland Revenue relating to the Swan Valley Railway (Holdings) plc appraisal for a business expansion scheme.
Mr. Lilley : I shall write to my hon. Friend about the case.
DTI Statistics
Mr. Gregory : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how much warning was given to United Kingdom industry of the ending of the quarterly sales inquiry ;
(2) what assessment he has made of the value of short-term production statistics to British industry ;
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(3) what representations he has received from British industry calling for comprehensive replacement of the quarterly sales inquiry statistics ;(4) what information he possesses on differences in the official collection of detailed short-term production statistics in the United Kingdom and in other Group of Seven countries ;
(5) what account was taken of the policies developed by the statistical office of the European Community in the decision made on the future of the quarterly sales inquiry ;
(6) whether he will now undertake (a) an assessment of the burden of form filling faced by British industry and (b) a review of the decision to curtail the quarterly sales inquiry.
Mr. Lilley : The outcome of the review of DTI statistics was announced by DTI Ministers on 10 May 1989. The main recommendations included a reduction in the volume of product sales statistics collected in official inquiries and released in the "Business Monitor" series. Most quarterly product inquiries were converted to an annual basis, and the number of headings for which information was collected was substantially reduced. The review also recommended a strengthening of the monthly sales inquiry used for compiling the index of production. Following enlargement of the Central Statistical Office in July 1989 to incorporate statistical inquiry work previously carried out by DTI, ministerial responsibility for implementing the review recommendations on product statistics fell to Treasury Ministers.
The last of the full quarterly sales inquiries related to the second quarter of 1989. Announcements explaining this change were included in the "Business Monitors" appearing during June and July 1989, and a detailed article on the impact of the review appeared in British Business on 14 July 1989. Subsequently, explanatory material was sent to 82 interested trade associations. Central Statistical Office staff are aware of 22 complaints relating to the loss of quarterly product statistics. Most of these concern the loss of data for particular industries or individual products.
The Government recognise the value of accurate and timely product statistics to both business men and official users. There is, however, a need to strike a balance between benefits to users of the information and the costs to business of completing statistical forms. The Government will ensure that statistical form filling is kept to a minimum, consistent with the information needs of government and business. Any unnecessary inquiries will be discontinued.
International comparisons are difficult to draw due to differences in institutional structures, roles played by trade bodies, periodicity of inquiries, and so on. The following estimates of product counts for which sales or production information is collected are based on work carried out by the West German Statistical Office in 1987 : UK 4,500 (since reduced to 3,000), France 10,000, West Germany 6,400, Italy 1,000, US 11,000 and Canada 3,800.
When the review of DTI statistics was carried out, proposals for developments in EC product statistics, known as PRODCOM, were at an early stage. The first detailed statement of Eurostat proposals is expected in the form of a draft regulation later this year. Views of UK business men and trade bodies on the PRODCOM proposals are being sought to ensure that any resulting scheme takes account of UK industrial needs. Key features
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of the scheme, including periodicity, variables to be collected, panel sizes and so on, are not yet known. Meanwhile, it would be premature to launch further assessments in this area.Real Take-home Pay
Ms. Short : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much average real take-home pay has increased for (i) a single person and (ii) a married couple since 1978-79.
Mr. Lilley : Real take-home pay this year for a single person on average male earnings is estimated to be 40 per cent. higher than in 1978- 79. For a married couple with non-earning wife and the husband on average male earnings the increase is estimated to be 38 per cent.
Revaluation, Southwark
Ms. Harman : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library a complete list of the rateable value, by property, of retail premises in Walworth road and Peckham road (a) before and (b) after the recent revaluation.
Mr. Lilley : No. Lists containing details of the 1973 and 1990 rateable values of all retail premises in Walworth road and Peckham road are available for inspection, free of charge, at the office of the London borough of Southwark and the Southwark valuation office.
Affinity Credit Cards
Mr. Hanley : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from charitable organisations about the value added tax and corporation tax implications of affinity credit card schemes ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Ryder : My right hon. Friend has received various representations, including a submission from the Charities' Tax Reform Group (CTRG), since the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Richmond and Barnes (Mr. Hanley) on 7 December 1989, at columns 308-09. Customs and Excise and the Inland Revenue have also had discussions with the CTRG about the tax implications of charities' affinity card schemes. It has now been agreed that, with the appropriate contractual arrangements, VAT will be charged on the promotional and other services supplied by the charities, but will not apply to contributions made by the credit card companies for which the beneficiaries are not obliged to do anything in return. The corporation tax treatment of individual schemes will depend on the contractual arrangements, but schemes can be set up in such a way that the charity's income from them qualifies for exemption from corporation tax.
Finance Bill
Mr. Hanley : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the notes on those clauses of the Finance Bill to be taken in Committee of the whole House will be made available to hon. Members.
Mr. Norman Lamont : Yes. The appropriate notes on clauses were placed in the Vote Office earlier today.
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TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Petrol Prices
Mr. Dickens : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what consideration he has given to introducing regulations compelling petrol forecourts to display their petrol prices in both gallons and litres ; and what representations he has had concerning those presenting high prices per gallon displaying prices only in litres.
Mr. Forth : Following consultation with interested parties, I laid an order in 1988 relaxing the requirements to display the price per gallon in addition to the price per litre. Under the recently adopted EC units of measurements directive, the United Kingdom will be required to phase out the use of the gallon for trade after 31 December 1994 at the latest. Although the gallon continues in the interim to be permitted to be used for trade, I understand that the overwhelming majority of garages already sell petrol by the litre. Accordingly, I do not consider it is now necessary to require petrol forecourts to display petrol prices in both gallons and litres. In the last year I have received four letters of complaint about this matter.
Sea Food
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has any proposals for the introduction of new labelling laws requiring manufacturers to declare the net defrosted weight of packed sea food.
Mr. Forth : My Department issued a consultation letter earlier this year proposing that legislation be introduced requiring packages of frozen prawns, shrimps and scampi to be marked with the weight net of ice-glaze. There was no opposition to this proposal which has now been notified to the EC Commission under the terms of directive 83/189/EEC. Subject to satisfactory completion of the notification, I intend to lay an order in Parliament to be debated by both Houses under the affirmative resolution procedure.
Financial Services Act
Mr. Tim Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Beaconsfield of 28 March, Official Report, column 209, which self-regulatory organisations have membership requirements that go further than the vetting of individuals of significance to the shareholdings or management of the business that is making application for authorisation under the Financial Services Act.
Mr. Redwood : I understand that the Securities Association and FIMBRA have membership requirements that go further than those mentioned in my previous reply.
Financial Times Conference
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representation his Department had at the Financial Times conference on industry and the environment held in London on 23 and 24 April.
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Mr. Douglas Hogg : My Department was not represented at this event, but representatives of the Department of the Environment did attend it.
Weights and Measures
Mr. Andrew Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he proposes to make any changes to the previously announced arrangements for metricating the quantities in which whisky, gin, rum and vodka may be served for consumption on licensed premises ; and whether he will make a statement.
Mr. Forth : I announced on 14 December that I intended to lay in draft an order which would permit these spirits to be served in a single round metric quantity of 25 ml from the middle of this year and to end the use of the existing imperial measures by 31 December 1994. Having considered representations on these proposals, it remains my intention to lay an order shortly along the lines previously announced. However, in addition I propose to consult interested parties about the possibility at a later stage of permitting one further round metric quantity of 35 ml and of extending the requirement to use prescribed measures to cover other spirits.
Toxic Waste
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what expertise his Department has made available to eastern European countries in toxic waste landfill disposal.
Mr. Forth [holding answer 1 May 1990] : My Department has organised bilateral seminars on atmospheric and water pollution control with representatives from Czechoslovakia and Bulgaria respectively. The seminars, which included advice on landfill were designed to identify areas of industrial technology which show potential for bilateral commercial development. Assistance to certain eastern European countries on a range of matters, including environmental problems, is also available under the Government's know-how fund and the European Community's PHARE programme.
ENVIRONMENT
Urban Development Corporations
Mr. Thornton : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish data on urban development corporations showing both for 1988-89 and 1989-90, by individual urban development corporation (a) the area of land reclaimed, (b) the total area of land bought, (c) the area of land bought by compulsory purchase order, (d) the number of houses built or refurbished, (e) the area of industrial and commercial floorspace built or refurbished, (f) the miles of roads constructed or improved, (g) the value of public expenditure and (h) the value of private investment.
Mr. Moynihan : The latest available information is set out in the tables.
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|c|UDCs: 1989-90|c|
UDCs |Land |Total land |Land (ha) |Housing |Ind./comm. |Roads |EFL |Private
|reclaimed |acquired |acquired |refurbished|floorspace |(km) |(£ million)|investment
|(ha) |(ha)<5> |by cpo<6> |or built |(sq m) |improved |(£ million)
|or built
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Black Country |71.7 |141 |0 |400 |220,000 |6.4 |38 |100
Bristol |5 |3.3 |0 |25 |n/a |0 |5 |n/a
Central Manchester |3.8 |3.5 |0 |115 |6,400 |0 |11 |33
Leeds |18 |32.7 |0 |105 |82,000 |0 |10.05 |33.65
London Docklands |22.7 |35.58 |<4> |1,900<1> |290,000 |7.21 |253.508 |1,207
Merseyside |11.9 |56.93 |0 |206 |30,000 |2.5 |23 |37
Sheffield |50 |28.3 |0 |0 |2,850 |0.375 |9.5 |105
Teesside |94 |237 |3 |30<2> |50.800 |1.2 |35.9 |151
|60<3>
Trafford Park |40.3 |11.6 |0 |0 |32,983 |0.5 |13.3 |173
Tyne and Wear |27.5 |62.7 |0 |255 |22,100 |1.6 |35.8 |36
<1> excludes refurbishment of existing homes.
<2> built or under construction.
<3> refurbished.
<4> not readily available.
<5> includes all land acquired by cpo, vesting or agreement.
<6> excludes land where a cpo has been confirmed but the land has not yet been acquired.
|c|UDCs:1988-89|c|
UDCs |Land |Total land |Land (ha) |Housing |Ind./comm. |Roads |EFL |Private
|reclaimed |acquired |acquired |refurbished|floorspace |(km) |(£ million)|investment
|(ha) |(ha)<4> |by cpo<5> |or built |(sq m) |improved |(£ million)
|or built
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Black Country |42 |122 |0 |288 |62,315 |5 |23.0 |95
Bristol |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0.283 |0
Central Manchester |0 |0.2 |0 |140 |0 |0 |2.5 |35
Leeds |5 |0 |0 |0 |60,000 |0 |2,743 |25
London Docklands |46 |2.07 |<3>- |<1>2,695 |240,000 |12.13 |116.415 |2,450
Merseyside |43 |45.95 |0 |233 |24,000 |3.65 |21.0 |17.5
Sheffield |1 |30.3 |0 |0 |50 |0.25 |7.958 |<2>72.65
Teesside |28 |36 |0 |0 |8,000 |0.6 |21.003 |34
Trafford Park |8.3 |18 |0 |0 |42,372 |0.8 |15.5 |100.6
Tyne & Wear |15.8 |141.6 |0 |0 |13,500 |0 |24.016 |40
<1> Excludes refurbishment of existing homes.
<2> Includes Meadowhall development, begun before SDC was set up in June 1988.
<3> Not readily available.
<4> Includes all land acquired by cpo, vesting or agreement.
<5> Excludes land where a cpo has been confirmed but the land has not yet been acquired.
Pollution
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what arrangements are made by his Department to record the effects of pollution by aerial reconnaissance.
Mr. Trippier : Satellite and aircraft reconnaissance is used by my Department's contractors according to need. It has many applications but usually in conjunction with ground-based monitoring and surveillance techniques. Examples include surveys of vegetation cover change in the countryside, radiometry, tracking of air pollution plumes and trajectories, and detection of phytoplankton blooms in the seas around the United Kingdom. Applications to record the effects of pollution are more problematical although some experimental work on detection of environmental damage in forests due to air pollution and other stresses, for example, disease and drought, has been undertaken. Similar work is undertaken by other Departments and the Natural Environmental Research Council, according to need. The most notable example of the programme of aerial surveillance of marine oil pollution undertaken by the Department of Transport.
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the minimum requirements for the
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National Rivers Authority to (a) record and (b) publish its investigation into pollution of (i) water and (ii) flood defences.Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : The duties of the National Rivers Authority in relation to both water pollution and flood defences are set out in the Water Act 1989. The NRA is required to prepare an annual report on its activities which must be laid before both Houses and published. The authority is also required to record information about its regular monitoring of water quality and related matters in public registers which are held in the authority's regional offices. The particulars which are to be contained in the registers are set out in the Control of Pollution (Registers) Regulations 1989.
In addition, the authority publishes, from time to time, reports and other information on matters for which it is responsible.
Rossall Point Sea Outfall
Mr. Pike : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if his Department has had any recent consultations with North West Water plc regarding the proposed Rossall Point long sea outfall ; and if he will make a statement.
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Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : The applications for consent to discharge in connection with the proposed long sea outfall are still before my right hon. Friend, and it would not be proper for me to comment on them at this stage.Nature Conservancy Council Joint Committee
Mr. Macdonald : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what number of staff he expects will be employed by the proposed joint committee for the Nature Conservancy Council for the purposes of carrying out the quinquennial review of protected animals and plants under section 24 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
Mr. Trippier : My Department is currently discussing the staffing requirements of the proposed three new country councils--including those of their joint committee--with the chairmen-designate, the NCC and the Countryside Commission. Figures for the number of staff to be allocated to specific functions will not be available until these discussions are complete.
Mr. Macdonald : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he intends the proposed joint committee for the Nature Conservancy Council to make a report under paragraph 17 of schedule 3 to the Nature Conservancy Council Act 1973 in respect of its functions under section 24 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
Mr. Trippier : Provision for the Secretary of State to publish the advice he receives on the quinquennial review is already proposed in paragraph 14(5)(c) of schedule 7 to the Environmental Protection Bill. Recommendation 4.19 of the second report of the Select Committee on Science and Technology of another place (HL Paper 33--I) is also germane to this point. The Government are currently considering that report, and will announce their response shortly.
Mr. William Ross : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the two assessors appointed to the Nature Conservancy Council's joint committee to represent Northern Ireland's interests will have voting powers in relation to matters of United Kingdom or international importance.
Mr. Trippier : We have always made clear the intention that the interests of nature conservation in Northern Ireland should be represented on the joint committee. There are legal and constitutional considerations which may make it appropriate for the Northern Ireland representatives to be non-voting.
Erasmus Centre
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has placed, or plans to place, any consultancy contract with the Erasmus centre for environmental studies in Rotterdam.
Mr. Trippier : The Department of the Environment has placed no contracts with the Erasmus centre for environmental studies and has no immediate plans to do so.
Local Government Finance
Mr. Winnick : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans substantially to amend the poll tax legislation ; and if he will make a statement.
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Mr. David Hunt : My right hon. Friend will make a statement if and when there is something to announce.
Radiation
Mr. Matthew Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to instigate a national survey to establish those properties where radiation levels are above acceptable levels ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Trippier : A representative national survey of radon in houses has been carried out by the National Radiological Protection Board ; the results are given in the publication "Natural Radiation Exposure in UK Dwellings, NRPB--R190, May 1988", a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House. A further programme of radon surveys by the NRPB is being funded by my Department.
Rainham Marshes
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from British Urban Development and Music Corporation of America in respect of the proposed theme park at Rainham marshes in the London borough of Havering ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Moynihan : Among the numerous representations received either from or against the granting of planning consent for the proposed development my right hon. Friend received letters from both organisations.
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) why the decision was taken not to call in the application for a theme park and related matters at Rainham marshes in the London borough of Havering ;
(2) if he will make a statement on the site of special scientific interest at Rainham marshes in the London borough of Havering.
Mr. Trippier : I can add nothing to what my right hon. Friend said in his announcement on 5 April. A copy of the press notice has been placed in the Library.
Orimulsion
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consultations he has undertaken regarding the environmental side-effects of burning Orimulsion and very heavy residual fuel oils in power stations.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution is in consultation with PowerGen plc concerning the use of Orimulsion and very heavy residual fuel oils in power stations. Trials are to be undertaken this summer to assess the environmental effects and what measures might be needed to minimise such effects.
Waste Paper
Mr. Campbell-Savours : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals have been made for the disposal of surplus waste paper from Government Departments which has been collected during the current year.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : Each Government Department at present makes its own arrangements for the disposal of
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waste in the light of local circumstances and security and other considerations. We are currently reviewing the arrangements made across Departments both for the use of recycled materials and for the disposal of waste with a view to maximising recycling. In the case of Department of the Environment headquarters buildings in Westminister and Lambeth, waste paper and cardboard are collected for recycling by contractors. The Department is at the moment considering ways of separating out a higher proportion of office waste for recycling.Ministerial Visit
Mr. Fatchett : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to be in a position to give a substantive reply to the question from the hon. Member for Leeds, Central on 18 April about the Minister for Local Government and Inner Cities' visit to Leeds on 4 April.
Mr. David Hunt : I answered the hon. Member's question on Tuesday 1 May at column 506 .
ISS Servisystem
Mr. Cousins : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, for how long cleaning services at Wellbar house, Gallowgate, Newcastle, have been provided by ISS Servisystem Ltd. ; how many contract terms ISS Servisystem Ltd. has had ; and what is the remaining period of the current contract.
Mr. Chope : Cleaning services at Wellbar house have been provided by ISS Servisystem Ltd. since March 1982 ; three contract terms have been awarded to it after competitive tender ; and the current contract has two years to run, expiring in April 1992.
Nature Conservancy
Mr. Andrew Bowden : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the proposed joint committee for the successors to the Nature Conservancy Council will have responsibility for providing advice to the Government on the conservation implications of trade in endangered species or their products.
Mr. Trippier [holding answer 27 April 1990] : Yes.
Mr. Andrew Bowden : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration has been given to the future ownership and holding of Great Britain's national nature reserves currently owned by the Nature Conservancy Council.
Mr. Trippier [holding answer 27 April 1990] : The Government have no plans to change the ownership of national nature reserves.
Local Government Revenue
Mr. Harry Barnes : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentages of English local government revenue for 1990-91 he has calculated will be received from (a) government grants, (b) the uniform business rate and (c) community charges.
Mr. Chope : The proportions of total local government revenue, including grants outside AEF and treating
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community charge rebates as central Government support, which are met from these three sources are as follows :
|Percentage
----------------------------------------
Government grants |48
Business rates |26
Community charges |26
American Forces
Sir Eldon Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which Suffolk parish councils have indicated to him that they intend to cease providing certain local services on the grounds that the revenues they expect to receive from their British charge payers, following the cessation of rates from American service men, are insufficient.
Mr. David Hunt [pursuant to his answer, 19 February 1990, c. 662.] : I now intend exceptionally to pay extra grant for 1990-91 only toparish councils which face particular difficulties as a result of the exemption from the community charge of United States service personnel living within their area. I understand that in some parishes where United States service men constitute a high proportion of the population, the parish council precept together with contributions to the area safety net has meant that some charge payers are bearing a heavy burden. I hope that this extra grant for 1990-91 will enable these parishes to continue to provide local services without an undue cost falling on charge payers in their area. This additional support will help those parishes most seriously affected by this problem in the first year of the new system. The grant system provides full compensation at district level for the fact that overseas service men--including those from the United States--are exempt from the community charge. District councils have powers to assist parish councils in meeting the cost of any function which they both may provide. From 1991-92 onwards I would expect district councils to make use of that power to assist parishes with a reduced number of charge payers as a result of the exemption of United States service personnel.
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