| Previous Section | Home Page |
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : If a local authority fails to comply with such a duty, it is for the authority's monitoring officer--under section 5 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989--to draw its attention to the failure.
Mortgage Repossession
Mr. Corbyn : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list the number of people accepted as homeless by local authorities in England due to mortgage repossession for (a) 1986, (b) 1987, (c) 1988, (d) 1989 and (e) 1990 (first quarter) ; for each English region and class of authority ;
Column 636
(2) if he will make a statement on the number of mortgage repossessions being made in Greater London and the effect on the use of expensive temporary accommodation by local authorities.Mr. Michael Spicer [holding answer 13 June 1990] : Local authorities report the number of households accepted under the homelessness provisions of the 1985 Housing Act where the main immediate reason for homelessness is mortgage arrears, but do not distinguish those who were actually subject to repossession. Estimates by class of authority are as follows :
N
|London |Other |Non- |All
|Authorities |Metropolitan|Metropolitan|England
|Authorities |Authorities
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1986 |630 |3,100 |6,340 |10,070
1987 |600 |3,620 |6,240 |10,460
1988 |540 |3,320 |4,480 |8,340
1989 |840 |3,370 |4,150 |8,360
1990<1> |350 |1,140 |1,600 |3,090
<1> First quarter.
Corresponding estimates by region are not readily available.
Mr. Corbyn : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the number of mortgage repossessions being made in Greater London and the effect on the use of expensive temporary accommodation by local authorities.
Mr. Michael Spicer [holding answer 13 June 1990] : Information is not available centrally on the number of dwellings in Greater London that have been taken into possession by mortgage lenders. According to local authority returns the proportion of households accepted as homeless as a direct consequence of mortgage arrears is only some 3 to 4 per cent. of all households accepted in London under the homelessness provisions of the Housing Act 1985. The effect on the use of temporary accommodation is therefore likely to be small.
Boundary Commission Reports
Mr. Rooker : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the local government boundary commission reports he is currently considering, stating the date he received each and setting out reasons for any delay in making a decision.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory [holding answer 19 June 1990] : The reports under consideration are :
Reviews of Counties |Commission's |Date of Receipt
|Report
|Number
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bedfordshire: boundaries with
Buckinghamshire and
Cambridgeshire |566 |<1>14 November 1988
Berkshire: boundaries with
Buckinghamshire,
Hampshire, Oxfordshire
and Surrey |558 |<1>31 August 1988
Buckinghamshire: boundaries
with Hertfordshire,
Northamptonshire and
Oxfordshire |571 |<1>5 May 1989
Hampshire: boundaries with
Dorset, West Sussex and
Wiltshire |580 |1 February 1990
Leicestershire: boundaries with
Derbyshire, Lincolnshire,
Nottinghamshire and
Warwickshire |577 |<1>9 October 1989
South Yorkshire: boundaries
with Doncaster (North
Yorkshire) and Bassetlaw
(Nottinghamshire) |585 |4 June 1990
Staffordshire: boundaries with
Cheshire, Derbyshire,
Hereford and Worcester,
and Warwickshire |582 |<1>12 February 1990
Surrey: boundary with
Hampshire |578 |19 January 1990
Reviews of Parishes within districts/boroughs
Chorley |- |1 May 1990
Northampton |- |2 January 1990
Woodspring |- |12 February 1990
<1> Decision to be announced shortly.
Rents into Mortgages Scheme
Mr. French : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those local authority areas in England which have applied to be considered for any extension of the rents into mortgages scheme to England.
Mr. Michael Spicer [holding answer 20 June 1990] : No such applications have been received.
Mr. French : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many representations he has received concerning the rents into mortgages scheme ; how many were (a) in favour and (b) against the scheme ; if he will list how many of these representations are from (i) individuals, (ii) organisations and (iii) local authorities ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Michael Spicer [holding answer 20 June 1990] : My hon. Friend and 25 members of the public have made representations in favour of a rent to mortgages scheme.
Tenants Incentive Scheme
Mr. French : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what plans he has to increase the participation rate in the tenants incentive scheme ;
(2) if he will list, for each local authority participating in the tenants incentive scheme (a) the amount offered to tenants, (b) how many council houses have been vacated and (c) the total number of tenants applying to take part in the scheme ; and if he will make a statement ;
(3) how many local authorities are participating in the tenants incentive scheme ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Michael Spicer [holding answer 20 June 1990] : The table sets out details of 89 local authorities which have been given approval to operate cash incentive schemes in 1990-91, the maximum expenditure to be incurred, and the grants to be made available to households. Details of
Column 638
vacancies created by these schemes and of grant applicants will be supplied to my Department by the local authorities concerned at the end of the year.Cash incentive schemes can be very valuable in helping existing tenants to move into homes of their own while releasing vacancies for reletting to homeless families. The Department encourages local authorities whose areas would benefit from a cash incentive scheme to bring forward proposals for approval. Once a scheme has been approved, details are published by the local authority and tenants are invited to make applications for grant.
|c|Local authority cash incentive schemes approved 1990-91|c|
|c|83 schemes; maximum expenditure £40.4 million; maximum number|c|
|c|of vacancies 2,597|c|
Local authority |Maximum |Maximum |Maximum
|expenditure |number of |grant for
|1990-91 |households |each
|assisted |household
|£ |£
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
London
Barnet |600,000 |30 |20,000
Brent |1.8 million |150 |13,000
Bromley |1.5 million |120 |13,000
Camden |200,000 |20 |20,000
Croydon |500,000 |33 |22,000
Ealing |2.2 million |140 |25,000
Enfield |1 million |55 |20,000
Hackney |1 million |50 |20,000
Hammersmith and
Fulham |540,000 |30 |18,000
Haringey |1.5 million |100 |20,000
Harrow |1 million |50 |25,000
Havering |150,000 |10 |16,000
Hillingdon |2.25 million |150 |15,000
Hounslow |150,000 |20 |15,000
Islington |1 million |50 |25,000
Kensington and Chelsea |750,000 |70 |13,000
Lambeth |400,000 |25 |20,000
Lewisham |1 million |70 |15,000
Merton |2 million |140 |15,000
Redbridge |3.92 million |140 |28,000
Richmond |300,000 |30 |10,000
Southwark |300,000 |34 |10,000
Wandsworth |1.95 million |100 |22,000
Westminster |2 million |100 |20,000
Eastern
Aylesbury Vale |400,000 |20 |20,000
Harlow |150,000 |15 |10,000
Huntingdon |150,000 |12 |13,000
Luton |200,000 |15 |13,000
Maldon |100,000 |8 |12,000
Peterborough |100,000 |20 |5,000
Rochford |100,000 |9 |11,250
South Bucks |40,000 |4 |11,000
St. Albans |150,000 |6 |25,000
Watford |200,000 |15 |13,500
East Midlands
Charnwood |100,000 |10 |10,000
East Northants |102,000 |17 |6,000
South Kesteven |500,000 |62 |8,000
South East
Adur |100,000 |10 |10,000
Arun |50,000 |5 |10,000
Basingstoke and Deane |250,000 |10 |25,000
Brighton |301,500 |15 |20,000
Canterbury |300,000 |14 |22,000
Cherwell |300,000 |25 |12,500
Dover |220,000 |10 |22,000
East Hampshire |100,000 |10 |10,000
Elmbridge |240,000 |12 |20,000
Fareham |107,475 |5 |21,495
Gillingham |70,000 |5 |15,000
Hart |200,000 |8 |25,000
Hastings |200,000 |20 |10,000
Havant |150,000 |10 |15,000
Horsham |250,000 |14 |17,000
Hove |500,000 |50 |10,000
Lewes |250,000 |25 |10,000
Maidstone |500,000 |20 |25,000
Oxford |500,000 |33 |15,000
Portsmouth |1,000,000 |50 |20,000
Reading |300,000 |15 |20,000
Reigate and Banstead |300,000 |15 |20,000
Rother |400,000 |17 |23,000
Runnymede |100,000 |8 |14,000
Rushmoor |100,000 |14 |8,000
Shepway |200,000 |9 |21,600
Southampton |200,000 |14 |15,000
Spelthorne |200,000 |8 |24,000
Tandridge |252,000 |20 |12,000
Test Valley |100,000 |10 |10,000
Tonbridge and Malling |500,000 |20 |25,000
Tunbridge Wells |250,000 |11 |24,000
Vale of White Horse |150,000 |10 |15,000
Wealden |200,000 |10 |20,000
West Oxfords |100,000 |5 |20,000
Woking |135,000 |10 |13,000
Worthing |240,000 |16 |15,000
South West
Exeter |50,000 |5 |10,000
Kennet |100,000 |10 |10,000
Purbeck |75,000 |10 |10,000
North Cornwall |45,000 |6 |7,500
Salisbury |100,000 |10 |10,000
South Somerset |100,000 |10 |10,000
Teignbridge |7,500 |1 |7,500
West Midlands
Stafford |300,000 |40 |10,000
Yorkshire and
Humberside
Hambleton |100,000 |12 |10,000
House Renovation Grants
Mr. Thurnham : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the new system of house renovation grants provided in part VIII of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 will be brought into effect in England and Wales.
Mr. Chope [pursuant to his answer, 22 February 1990, c. 888] : A booklet "House Renovation Grants" has been issued by my Department today and I am sending a copy to all hon. Members in England. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales is sending copies to all hon. Members in Wales. The booklet provides a simple guide for the public on the new grants and assistance which may be available from local authorities towards the cost of home repairs and improvements. Copies of the booklet will be available free of charge from local authorities, citizens advice bureaux and local social security offices. Two circulars containing detailed guidance on the new grants have also been sent to local authorities.
Compulsory Purchase Orders
Mr. Anthony Coombs : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many compulsory purchase orders were approved by the Department (i) in the latest
Column 640
year for which figures are available and (ii) five years ago for (a) residential property and (b) empty residential property ; (2) what proportion of compulsory purchase orders approved by his Department are associated with purchase for rehabilitation and resale (a) in the latest year for which figures are available and (b) five years ago.Mr. Chope [holding answer 19 June 1990] : The main compulsory purchase powers for residential properties are contained in parts II and VIII of the Housing Act, 1985. A total of 128 compulsory purchase orders were confirmed in 1989 and 238 in 1984. Orders are considered on their merits and statistics on the numbers of properties affected and their proposed use are not kept.
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Insider Dealing
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has any plans to increase the powers and resources available to those bodies charged with the duty of enforcing legislation aimed at preventing insider dealing.
Mr. Redwood : I am satisfied that the available powers are appropriate at present. The level of resources is kept under review with a view to ensuring efficient operation.
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will consider legislation to enable the use of civil remedies by law enforcement agencies and those who can establish loss in alleged cases of insider dealing.
Mr. Redwood : The recent report "Company Investigations" by the Select Committee on Trade and Industry recommended changes in this area. The Government's response will be made in the normal fashion.
Eureka Programme
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the most recent decisions taken at the ministerial meeting in Italy considering the Eureka programme in regard to investment in environmental protection projects.
Mr. Forth : At the ministerial conference in Rome ealier this month, five EUREKA environmental protection projects involving United Kingdom organisations were announced. Their combined value is £66.2 million.
Technology Transfer
Dr. Kim Howells : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what are the main components of Government spending on technology transfer in the United Kingdom ; how the level of spending has changed in the period 1979 to 1990 ; and what is the predicted level of spending in the future.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : The DTI supports the widespread adoption of new technologies and current best practice through a range of specific technology transfer programmes which currently include advanced information
Column 641
technology, "open systems" standards for IT equipment and modern materials technology. In addition, the Department provides support for a number of other activities which contribute to technology transfer--particularly technology-based consultancies and the teaching company scheme. Total outturn and planned expenditure figures-- which are available on a consistent basis only from 1984-85--are as follows :Year |£ million ------------------------------ 1984-85 |80 1985-86 |74 1986-87 |99 1987-88 |93 1988-89 |96 1989-90 |97 1990-91 |112 1991-92 |114 1992-93 |113
Technology transfer is also encouraged in the United Kingdom through the R and D programmes supported by the Department and the European Community.
Development Areas (Innovation)
Dr. Kim Howells : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what are the Government's main programmes to promote innovation in the United Kingdom's development areas ; what is the current annual level of spend ; and how this level has changed in the period 1979 to 1990.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : The only scheme to promote innovation projects specifically in the development areas of Great Britain over the last 10 years is the innovation element of the regional enterprise grant scheme which started in April 1988 ; the expenditure for this scheme in the development areas--DAs--of Great Britain is listed in the table.
A number of other schemes have promoted innovation projects in Great Britain over this period on a national basis.
The product and process development scheme was introduced in 1977. This scheme was renamed support for innovation--SFI--in 1982 and in January 1988 the research and technology initiative was launched. It is not possible to detail expenditure for these schemes in the development areas.
The small firms merit award for research and technology--SMART--was introduced on a pilot basis in 1986. A further competition was held in 1988 and a three-year programme of annual SMART competitions commenced in 1989. SMART is available throughout Great Britain, including the DAs. It is not possible to detail expenditure in those areas in the time available.
Questions concerning Northern Ireland should be referred to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
|c|Regional Innovation Grants Expenditure|c| Year |£ million ------------------------------ 1988-89 |0.3 1989-90 |2.1
Tour Operators (Holiday Accommodation)
Mr. Nigel Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will seek to ensure that the European Commission's package travel directive will make British tour operators liable for defective holiday accommodation abroad offered to their customers.
Mr. Forth : The European Commission directive on package travel, package holidays and package tours was adopted by the Council of Ministers on 13 June this year. Under this measure, member states are required to ensure that the organiser and/or retailer of packages is liable to the consumer for the proper performance of obligations arising under the contract.
Dunsdale Securities Mr. Cousins : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on what date and through what channel his Department first became aware of problems at Dunsdale Securities.
Mr. Redwood [holding answer 18 June 1990] : On the morning of 6 June, when FIMBRA's decision to ban Dunsdale Securities Ltd from carrying on investment business became public knowledge.
Professional Liability
Mr. Cousins : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action he has taken, and proposes to take, on the
recommendations of the Likierman review of professional liability.
Mr. Redwood [holding answer 19 June 1990] : I refer the hon. Member to the statement I made in answer to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Banbury (Mr. Baldry) on 31 October 1989, at columns 106-08. Of the two recommendations of the auditors study team which fall to my Department, the proposal to clarify the law on directors' insurance, to enable a company to reimburse a director for his liability insurance, has been implemented in section 137 of the Companies Act 1989. However, as my statement made clear, we decided against the recommendation that an auditor should, by agreement with a company, be able to limit his liability. As to the recommendation of the other surveyors study team on the implementation of section 22 of the Estate Agents Act 1979, my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Industry and Consumer Affairs stated on 29 November, in answer to a question from the hon. Member for Knowsley, South (Mr. Hughes), at columns 284-85, that we had decided against implementation. Other recommendations are for other Departments and my right hon. Friend has no proposals for further action.
Companies House Agency
Mr. Cousins : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what advice the Companies House Agency offered to the National Front before extending limited liability status to it.
Mr. Redwood : No limited liability status has been extended to the National Front as a political organisation.
Column 643
OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT
Stamp Issues
Mr. Barry Field : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those countries and territories for which stamp issues have been handled by the Crown Agents during the last two years ; if he will list the stamp printers used ; and if he will tabulate the fees earned from stamp issues.
Mrs. Chalker : This information concerns the Crown Agents' commercial relations with its clients and it would not therefore be appropriate for me to provide it.
Aid Spending (United Kingdom)
Mrs. Clwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what percentage of the aid budget was spent within the United Kingdom for each year from 1980 ; and if he will give details of this expenditure for 1989.
Mrs. Chalker : Data are not collected on the amount of aid actually spent in the United Kingdom. However, an approximation can be obtained for bilateral aid expenditure by reference to the tying status of the original commitment and estimates of local costs. The proportion of tied to total financial aid has been as follows :
Year |Per cent --------------------------- 1980 |59 1981 |59 1982 |61 1983 |53 1984 |46 1985 |47 1986 |60 1987 |52 1988 |52 1989 |<1> <1>Not yet available.
Technical co-operation is by its nature mainly tied as its major components are financing of students from developing countries to study in the United Kingdom, consultancies, experts and volunteers from the United Kingdom and research in United Kingdom institutions. Multilateral aid is not tied to United Kingdom purchases ; but those multilateral aid agencies we support procure goods and services from the United Kingdom equivalent to about £1.75 for each £1 we contribute.
Refugees and Displaced Persons (Aid)
Sir David Steel : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list (a) the British level of multilateral aid and (b) the level of British bilateral aid to refugees and displaced persons in each member state of the Southern African Development Co- ordination Conference and South Africa for each year from 1987 to 1990.
Mrs. Chalker : The information is as follows :
Column 644
|c|(a) British contribution to multilateral aid for refugees
and displaced|c|
|c|persons in SADCC countries and South Africa|c|
£ million
|1987 |1988 |1989
|(to date)
---------------------------------------------------------------
Angola |- |- |0.71 |-
Botswana |- |- |- |-
Lesotho |- |- |- |-
Malawi |0.33 |2.6 |3.3 |3.0
Mozambique |0.69 |1.05 |0.2 |-
Namibia |- |- |0.5 |-
Swaziland |0.8 |0.5 |- |-
Tanzania |- |0.5 |- |-
Zambia |0.8 |0.5 |- |-
Zimbabwe |0.8 |0.5 |- |-
South Africa |- |- |- |-
|c|(b) British bilateral aid to refugees and displaced persons
in|c|
|c|SADCC countries and South Africa|c|
£ million
|1987 |1988 |1989
|(to date)
---------------------------------------------------------------
Angola |0.08 |0.05 |0.045 |0.4
Botswana |0.25 |- |0.1 |-
Lesotho |- |0.004 |- |-
Malawi |0.09 |0.3 |0.4 |-
Mozambique |4.31 |5.81 |1.99 |1.83
Namibia |- |- |- |-
Swaziland |0.04 |0.02 |0.04 |-
Tanzania |0.04 |- |0.036 |-
Zambia |- |- |0.03 |-
Zimbabwe |0.02 |0.01 |0.07 |-
South Africa |0.25 |0.34 |0.17 |0.05
CIVIL SERVICE
Agencies
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Minister for the Civil Service how many agencies (a) have been set up over the past two years and (b) are currently expected to be set up.
Mr. Luce [holding answer 19 June 1990] : A total of 31 executive agencies employing 69,000 staff have been set up over the past two years, and a further 25 activities employing some 125,000 staff have been announced as candidates for agency status. Departments are currently considering how "next steps" might be applied to a range of other activities, and I would expect announcements to be made on a number of these in due course. The project manager anticipates a total of around 50 agencies established by the end of July next year, and I expect to see "next steps" applied to at least half the civil service by the end of 1991, with still further progress after that.
THE ARTS
Traditional Music
Mr. Jack : To ask the Minister for the Arts what help his budget afforded to the development and playing of traditional types of British music.
Mr. Luce : Direct support for the arts is the responsibility of the Arts Council and the regional arts associations. I understand that both provide support for traditional types of British music in the form of help with recordings and general education work.
Column 645
ATTORNEY-GENERAL
Foreign Courts (Legal Redress)
Mr. Nigel Griffiths : To ask the Attorney-General what assistance the Government provide for British citizens to seek legal redress in foreign courts.
The Attorney-General : The Government provide assistance for British citizens seeking legal redress in foreign courts in a number of ways.
Under the terms of the European agreement on the transmission of applications for legal aid any person who resides permanently in a contracting country and who wishes to apply for legal aid in civil, commercial or administrative matters in another contracting country may submit his application to the legal aid authority in the country in which he resides for transmission to the other contracting country.
Where children are abducted from the United Kingdom to a country which is a party to either The Hague or European conventions of 1980 on international child abductions, the Lord Chancellor's Department acts as the central authority for the United Kingdom and communicates with central authorities in other contracting countries to facilitate the return of or access to the child.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office and diplomatic and consular missions hold copies of lists of local lawyers which can be provided to inquirers on request.
DEFENCE
Helicopter Noise, County Armagh
Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he received the preliminary report of the noise survey carried out by Dr. Gerry McCullagh of the university of Ulster into noise levels in the vicinity of the helicopter landing site at Bessbrook, County Armagh ; when the findings of the survey will be available ; what representations he has received from residents of Bessbrook, County Armagh, about noise levels in the vicinity of the helicopter landing site in the village ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The report was received on 1 June and one additional item of data is expected shortly. The report is currently being studied and my noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces expects to be in a position to write to the hon. Member in the near future. We have received very few representations specifically relating to helicopter noise levels from residents in the Bessbrook area since the noise insulation grant scheme was introduced in June 1988.
RAF Flights
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what was the cost to the public purse of taking the Bishop of Ripon on a flight in a Tornado jet fighter from the RAF base at RAF Leeming on 5 June ;
(2) what was the cost of taking (a) a journalist and (b) the hon. Member for Ryedale (Mr. Greenway) on flights in Jet Provost trainers from the RAF base at Linton-on-Ouse.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : Such flights are undertaken as routine training sorties, and the carriage of a passenger involves no additional cost to public funds.
Column 646
Air Experience Flights
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list for the last 12 months, and by cost to the public purse, the number of air experience flights given to (a) hon. Members of Her Majesty's Government, (b) hon. Members of Her Majesty's Opposition and (c) other non- armed service persons, excluding those provided at air shows and air displays, in Royal Air Force jet aircraft.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : My noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces will write to the hon. Member.
Holy Loch
Mr. Boyes : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the termination date of the current agreement between Her Majesty's Government and the United States Government on the use of Holy Loch as a United States navy submarine facility.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The agreement has no termination date ; it will continue for as long as both parties require it.
Mr. Boyes : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) on what date the Poseidon ballistic missile submarines are due to be withdrawn from the United States navy facility at Holy Loch ; (2) when he last discussed the future of the United States facilities at Holy Loch with the United States authorities.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : I have nothing to add to the answer given to the hon. Member for Denton and Reddish (Mr. Bennett) on 20 March 1990 at column 521.
Royal Fleet Auxiliary
Mr. Boyes : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are his intentions for the current Fort class Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels following the introduction of the new Fort Victoria class.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The two Fort class Royal Fleet Auxiliary replenishment vessels are planned to remain in service until they reach the end of their useful operational lives. The new Fort Victoria class auxiliary oiler replenishment vessels will provide further support to the Royal Navy in the form of a one-stop liquids-solids replenishment facility.
Mr. Boyes : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements exist for anti-submarine warfare helicopter support of Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels following the disbandment of No. 824 squadron.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : Anti-submarine warfare helicopter support for Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels continues to be provided by Sea King aircraft of No. 826 squadron. No. 824 squadron was disbanded following the completion of the Sea King Mk 6 trials on which it was engaged. Its aircraft and manpower have been redeployed within the fleet.
Vessels (Decommissioning)
Mr. Boyes : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the planned decommissioning date of (a) HMS Valiant, (b) HMS Warspite and HMS Churchill.
Column 647
Mr. Archie Hamilton : No decisions have yet been taken on the decommissioning of the vessels to which the hon. Member refers.Nuclear Depth Bombs
Mr. Boyes : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the progress of plans to replace the Royal Navy's nuclear depth bombs ; and when he expects to make a decision on their replacement.
Mr. Alan Clark : I have nothing to add to the answer I gave on 24 October 1989, Official Report, column 434.
Hospitality
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what review his Department is carrying out of the rules under which hospitality can be accepted ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Alan Clark : The Ministry of Defence is currently engaged in a routine review of its hospitality rules involving all interested parties within the Department and in consultation with the trade unions. This review is concerned with clarifying the instructions and guidance which are currently given to all staff within the framework of existing policy.
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people associated with his Department have logged, according to the Defence Council instruction, that they have been offered hospitality since the procedure was established ; what investigations have, and are currently, taking place that the system has not been complied with ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Alan Clark : It is departmental policy that all offers of hospitality accepted by MOD staff should be registered in hospitality books. These books are the subject of regular review by senior management. The total number of invitations is not collated centrally. There is no evidence to suggest that the procedure is not being followed.
Corruption
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) civil servants and (b) armed forces personnel, both current and formerly serving, are under investigation following allegations of bribery and corruption ; if he will list the weapons, projects or circumstances involved in each case and the value of each project ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Alan Clark : An official of my Department has been arrested and charged with an offence contrary to the Prevention of Corruption Act 1906. A retired Army officer has also been arrested in connection with a similar offence but has not so far been charged. The investigation is still in progress and other individuals will be interviewed as and when the police consider it appropriate.
Air-to-Surface Missiles
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much money is currently being spent on research and development for a tactical air-to-surface missile with a range of 400 km, at the atomic weapons research establishment, Aldermaston ; and if he will make a statement on the progress of this project.
Column 648
Mr. Alan Clark : Research and development of missiles does not take place at the atomic weapons establishment.
NATO (Japanese Delegation)
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the purposes and terms of reference of a high-level miltary and diplomatic delegation to NATO from Japan.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : A Japanese delegation, led by the deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, attended a seminar in Belgium, jointly organised by the NATO information service and the United States delegation to NATO from 17 to 19 June. The subject of the seminar was "Security--North American, European and Japanese Interdependence in the 1990s". Such contact between NATO nations and Japan on security matters of mutual interest is useful, and I welcome the fact that the Japanese were able to participate.
AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD
Aquagard
Sir Fergus Montgomery : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recommendations he has received from the Veterinary Products Committee regarding the licensing of Aquagard ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Maclean : A product licence for Aquagard sea lice treatment for use in treating farmed salmon was first issued in June 1989, for a period of one year, following advice from the Veterinary Products Committee--VPC. The committee has recently met to review Aquagard in the light of a programme of further research, and has recommended that a two-year extension of the licence be granted subject to some modifications of the label warning and a further environmental impact report from the manufacturers in one year. I have decided to accept this recommendation, and a licence will therefore be issued subject to the conditions set by the VPC being met. Efforts will continue to be made to develop an alternative strategy to control sea lice in farmed salmon within this two year period.
It is however imperative that an alternative strategy to control sea lice in farmed salmon be developed as soon as possible. The Government are determined to meet their commitment at the North sea conference to reduce by 50 per cent. the inputs of certain substances to the marine environment by 1995, including dichlorvos, the active ingredient of Aquagard. Any application for extension to the licence for Aquagard beyond 1992 will need to be considered in the light of this commitment, and the presumption will therefore be to replace it with satisfactory alternative methods of treatment.
The VPC's original recommendation that the licence should be limited to one year's duration took account of the full range of Medicines Act considerations on product safety, quality and efficacy. The further review recently carried out did not therefore address matters on which the VPC was already satisfied, but took into account the following :
(a) target species safety ; and
(b) environmental impact
All the aquatic toxicology studies considered by the VPC suggested that lobster larvae were the candidate
| Next Section
| Home Page |