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|Electricity |British Gas |British
|Industries<1> |Telecom
----------------------------------------------------------------------
1979-80 |945 |-447 |<2>-
1980-81 |214 |-409 |-109
1981-82 |-153 |39 |250
1982-83 |-29 |-230 |-323
1983-84 |-252 |-45 |-225
1984-85 |850 |-189 |-341
1985-86 |-278 |-190 |-
1986-87 |-1,101 |-684 |-
1987-88 |-1,132 |- |-
1988-89 |-1,650 |- |-
1989-90 |-1,536 |- |-
<1>Comprises the sum of the EFLs of the electricity industry in
England and Wales, the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board, and
the South of Scotland Electricity Board.
<2>British Telecom was not constituted as a separate body until
1980-81.
Column 12
ENERGY
Trawsfynydd Power Station
Mr. Tony Lloyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what lessons were learnt from the emergency exercise at Trawsfynydd power station.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : The annual demonstration of arrangements for dealing with an emergency affecting the Trawsfynydd power station site was held on 22 November 1990. This was witnessed by the Health and Safety Executive's nuclear installations inspectorate and found to be satisfactory.
Berkeley Power Station
Dr. Kim Howells : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if the Government have decided where they intend to store the irradiated sections of the Berkeley nuclear power station after it has been dismantled and decommissioned.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : This is a management matter for Nuclear Electric, subject to the requirements of the Health and Safety Executive in accordance with the conditions attached to the nuclear site licence.
Dr. Kim Howells : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what progress has so far been made by Nuclear Electric in dismantling and decommissioning the Magnox reactor and its associated systems and buildings at Berkeley in Gloucestershire.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : This is a matter for Nuclear Electric plc. However, I understand from Nuclear Electric that defuelling of the reactors is progressing well and is expected to be completed in 1992. The company tells me that the extent and timing of dismantling of plant and buildings is currently under review and the results are likely to be announced in the next few months.
Electricity Privatisation
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many applications were made for shares in the electricity distribution companies on behalf of children aged (a) under five, (b) under 16 and (c) under 18 years ; and what proportion were successful.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : The information requested is not available.
Nuclear Research
Mr. Tony Lloyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the mode of operation of the levy on the nuclear industry to enable the Health and Safety Executive to be resourced to undertake nuclear research.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : Under the provisions of the Atomic Energy Act 1989, the Health and Safety Executive recovers from nuclear licensees the cost of the safety research for which responsibility was transferred from my Department to the Health and Safety Commission on 1 April this year. This arrangement covers the cost of the research and HSE's costs in managing it.
Column 13
Opinion Survey
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list any opinion surveys conducted by, for or on behalf of his Department since 1 January 1985, giving the date and purpose of each survey.
Mr. Wakeham : Central records do not separately identify which of the surveys conducted by the Department included questions seeking opinions and which did not. Such information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Sellafield
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what has been the cost to the public purse as a result of land purchases in the area within a 30-mile radius of Sellafield by British Nuclear Fuels ; what acreage of land has been purchased since 1970 ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : British Nuclear Fuels plc's business is financed by borrowing on the commercial markets. Land purchases are a commercial matter for the company.
Sourgas
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what research he has undertaken to establish the safety of sourgas as a power source for gas-fired power stations ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Moynihan : None. Health and safety at power stations, including appropriate research, is primarily a matter for the employer. The Health and Safety Executive is the public body responsible for ensuring compliance with statutory requirements in this area.
PRIME MINISTER
Government Objectives
Mr. Sayeed : To ask the Prime Minister what are the objectives of Her Majesty's Government for the rest of this Parliament.
The Prime Minister : The Government's objectives remain to carry forward the programme outlined in the Queen's Speech, Official Report, 7 November 1990, columns 4-6.
Poland
Mr. Alex Carlile : To ask the Prime Minister if he will hold an early meeting with the president of Poland ; and if he will make a statement on British-Poland relations.
The Prime Minister : I certainly hope to meet the Polish President-- whose election I warmly welcome--before too long. No date has yet been fixed. Our bilateral relations with Poland are excellent. We hope that President Walesa will maintain the IMF-backed economic reformprogramme, which is vital to Poland's future prosperity. We will continue to give substantial help to ease the transition to democracy and a market-based economy.
Column 14
Terrorism
Mr. Hunter : To ask the Prime Minister how many people have been killed and how many injured (a) in Great Britain and (b) in Northern Ireland as a result of terrorist activity each month since May 1988.
The Prime Minister : The information is given in the tables.
(a) Great Britain
|Deaths |Injuries
-------------------------------------
1988
May |0 |0
June |0 |0
July |0 |0
August |1 |8
September |0 |0
October |0 |0
November |0 |0
December |270 |<1>5
1989
January |0 |0
February |0 |1
March |0 |0
April |0 |0
May |0 |0
June |0 |0
July |0 |0
August |0 |0
September |11 |16
October |0 |0
November |0 |2
December |0 |0
1990
January |0 |0
February |0 |2
March |0 |0
April |0 |0
May |1 |9
June |1 |41
July |1 |0
August |0 |0
September |0 |4
October |0 |0
November |0 |0
December |0 |0
<1> The figures for December 1988
result from the Lockerbie incident.
All other figures result from
terrorist activity connected with
the
affairs of Northern Ireland.
(b) Northern Ireland
|Deaths |Injuries
-------------------------------------
1988
May |5 |90
June |9 |64
July |11 |67
August |26 |159
September |4 |117
October |8 |67
November |4 |67
December |2 |56
1989
January |3 |49
February |10 |64
March |12 |61
April |4 |102
May |3 |103
June |4 |91
July |5 |99
August |2 |109
September |3 |56
October |5 |76
November |9 |60
December |2 |89
1990
January |8 |70
February |0 |122
March |6 |66
April |9 |54
May |1 |84
June |5 |59
July |8 |111
August |1 |71
September |6 |77
October |19 |<1>-
November |9 |<1>-
<1> These figures are not yet
available.
Advertising
Mr. Michael : To ask the Prime Minister whether he will review the percentage increase in the expenditure on advertising in the press, television and other forms of publicity in each Department of state in the last five years and institute an inquiry into the reasons for any departmental increases which are in excess of the rate of inflation over the period.
The Prime Minister : Expenditure on advertising in the press, television and other forms of publicity is a matter for departmental Ministers within the Government conventions on the use of paid publicity and advertising.
Downing Street
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Prime Minister if he has any plans to re-establish the public right of way through Downing street.
The Prime Minister : Access to Downing street has been controlled for security reasons for many years. This does not stop the many people who come to Downing street for meetings, receptions or to present petitions.
Bangladesh
Mr. Madden : To ask the Prime Minister what message he has sent to the newly appointed President of Bangladesh ; if he will place the text of any messages in the Library ; and if he will make a statement about relations between Her Majesty's Government and the Government of Bangladesh.
The Prime Minister : My right hon Friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary sent a message of good wishes to the acting President, Mr. Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed and looks forward to working with the new interim Government of Bangladesh to reinforce the friendly relations which already exist between our two countries.
Opinion Surveys
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list any opinion surveys conducted by, for or on behalf of the Cabinet Office and Management and Personnel Office since 1 January 1985 giving the date and purpose of each survey.
The Prime Minister : This information is not held centrally and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Column 16
WALES
Corlan Housing Association
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) when he expects to receive a copy of the investigation by Tai Cymru into the financial collapse of the Corlan housing association ; and if he will place a copy of the report in the Library ;
(2) when he expects to meet the chairman of Tai Cymru to discuss his report on the financial collapse of the Corlan housing association.
Mr. Nicholas Bennett : The Housing Association Consultancy and Advisory Service's report has been received in the Department and is being studied. It is not customary to publish reports of inquiries carried out under section 28 of the Housing Associations Act 1985, but I will make a further statement when the legal and other implications of the report have been considered.
Pontypridd-Treforest Rhondda Ring Road
Dr. Kim Howells : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether the Pontypridd-Treforest Rhondda ring road scheme is to begin and proceed along the agreed construction time tables announced earlier this year.
Mr. David Hunt : It was not possible to accommodate in full Mid Glamorgan county council's 1991-92 bid for transport grant support for the Pontypridd inner relief road scheme. The transport grant settlement announced on 5 December will enable the county council to continue with substantial expenditure on advance works. The timing of the scheme is for the county council to consider in the light of the settlement.
Homelessness
Mr. Alex Carlile : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement concerning his policy towards single homeless people in Wales.
Mr. Nicholas Bennett : Local housing authorities are responsible for assessing housing needs within their own areas including those of single people. Working in partnership with housing associations and the private sector, it is for them to secure appropriate accommodation for single homeless people in the Principality, making sensitive use of the substantial resources we are making available to assist in tackling homelessness generally. I am considering what further action might be taken to help assist the single homeless.
Single People's Accommodation
Mr. Alex Carlile : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many new units of accommodation for single people were constructed in Wales in each of the years 1979 to date ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Nicholas Bennett : The information requested is not collected centrally. However, figures for one-bedroomed houses and flats from 1979 to date, may be found in table 6.8 of "Housing and Construction Statistics 1979-1989" a copy of which is in the Library of the House.
Column 17
Speed Limits
Mr. Alex Carlile : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement concerning his policy on the introduction of new village speed limits on trunk roads in Wales.
Mr. David Hunt : Requests for new village speed limits are judged against the criteria and guidance set out in
Column 18
Welsh Office circular 10/80. Consideration is also given to whether engineering or traffic signing measures would be appropriate instead of or in addition to a speed limit.Mr. Alex Carlile : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the new 30 and 40 mph speed limits respectively introduced and removed on trunk roads in Wales in each of the years from 1985 to date.
Mr. David Hunt : The information is given in the table :
Column 17
Year Introduced Removed
|30 mph |40 mph |30 mph |40 mph
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1985 |A40 Crickhowell, Powys |A470/A4060 Abercynon- |A470/A4060 Abercynon- |-
| Pentrebach | Pentrebach
|A4232 Capel Llanilltern-
| Culverhouse Cross, South
| Glamorgan
|A494 Llanferres, Clwyd
|A55/A494 Ewloe Interchange,
| Clwyd
1986 |A40 Whitland, Dyfed |- |A55 Bodelwyddan, Clwyd |A55 Bodelwyddan, Clwyd
|A55 Holywell, Clwyd
1987 |- |- |A470 Dolfach, Powys |-
|A477 Llanteg, Dyfed
1988 |- |A5 Pentrefoelas, Clwyd |A487 Cross Hands, Dyfed |-
|A487 Dinas, Dyfed |A40 Whitland, Dyfed
|A48 Cheps:tow, Gwen
|A48 Chepstow, Gwent
|A55 Holywell, Clwyd
|A483 Ruabon, Clwyd
|A458 Middletown, Powys
1989 |- |A40 Prendergast, Dyfed |A55 Penmaenmawr, Gwynedd |-
|A55 Llanfairfechan, Gwynedd
|A55 Holywell-Northop, Clwyd
1990 |A477 Kingswood, Pembroke |A470 Rhayader, Powys |A55 Travellers Inn, Clwyd |-
| Dock |A487 Cardigan By Pass
Treatment Centres
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list against each of the centres established in Wales as part of the treatment centres initiative (a) its name, location and specialty, (b) its commencement date, (c) the budget allocated to that centre for 1989-90 and 1990-91 and (d) the number of patients treated at that centre since it started work.
Mr. David Hunt : The information is as follows :
1. Orthopaedic treatment centre, Prince of Wales hospital, Rhydlafar, South Glamorgan :
(a) Opened December 1989
(b) Funding : £223,500 in 1989-90
£598,000 in 1990-91
(c) Number of patients treated : 285 at end November 1990. 2. General surgical ; treatment centre (various veins and hernias) Bridgend General hospital, Mid Glamorgan :
(a) Opened March 1990
(b) Funding : £197,000 in 1989-90
£342,000 in 1990-91
(c) Number of patients treated : 394 at end November 1990. 3. Ophthalmic treatment centre, Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor, Gwynedd : (a) Opened June 1990
(b) Funding : £88,000 in 1989-90
£263,000 in 1990-91
(c) Number of patients treated : 172 at end November 1990.
Column 18
Private Landlords
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will take steps to strengthen the ability of local authorities in Wales to bring the standard of the worst landlords in the private sector up to that of the best ;
(2) what fresh initiatives he intends to take to protect the most vulnerable tenants in the private rented sector from harassment.
Mr. Nicholas Bennett : I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave him on 14 December 1990.
Advertising
Mr. Michael: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list those headings of Welsh Office expenditure, including grant in aid or funding of agencies, which include, or may include, some element of expenditure on advertising in the press, on television or radio or other expenditure on advertising and promotion in addition to the figures given in his answer of 11 December, Official Report , columns 332-33 .
Mr. David Hunt : The figures provided in my anser of 11 December to the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, Central (Mr. Fisher) cover all identifiable items of publicity and related expenditure incurred directly by the Welsh Office in each of the years shown.
Column 19
Information about publicity and related expenditure of the many bodies which receive funding from the Department is not collected centrally.ENVIRONMENT
Pensioner Households
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will publish in the Official Report, for each standard region, the number of pensioner-only households, specifying those with only one pensioner occupant and those with two or more.
Mr. Key : Estimates of the numbers of pensioner-only households for each standard region are given in the table. These estimates are based on family expenditure survey data from 1987, 1988 and 1989 and "pensioners" is taken to be persons of pensionable age.
Thousands\c\
Region |One pensioner|Two or more
|households |pensioner
|households
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Northern |235 |115
Yorkshire and Humberside |380 |215
North-West |410 |240
East Midlands |250 |185
West Midlands |350 |215
East Anglia |145 |135
Greater London |410 |190
Rest of South-East |650 |485
South-West |300 |240
Local Government Finance
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the proceeds for each standard region of a levy of 1 per cent. in the estimated value of dwellings together with the number of (a) children under the age of 18 years, (b) disabled persons, (c) retirement pensioners and (d) other adults.
Mr. Key : The available information is given in the table. The estimated value of dwellings in each region is based on recent data on house sales prices and numbers of domestic hereditaments in each region. This is the best information available but is of limited accuracy. Population data is taken from the Office of Population Census and Surveys 1989 mid year estimates.
Column 19
Region |Yield from 1|Children un-|Persons of |Adults
|per cent. |der 18 |pension age |(all 18+)
|£ billion |(thousands) |(thousands) |(thousands)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northern |0.7 |697 |566 |2,376
Yorkshire and Humberside |1.0 |1,136 |906 |3,805
North-West |1.3 |1,491 |1,154 |4,889
East Midlands |0.9 |915 |712 |3,084
West Midlands |1.2 |1,216 |912 |4,000
East Anglia |0.5 |468 |397 |1,577
Greater London |2.6 |1,510 |1,172 |5,246
Rest of South-East |3.4 |2,408 |1,974 |8,219
South-West |1.2 |1,009 |982 |3,643
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will bring forward proposals to establish constitutionally independent local authorities in the United Kingdom which would be able to raise their own revenue, go bankrupt, and be free from central Government capital controls.
Mr. Key : My right hon. Friend has announced that we are initiating a thorough review of local government finance and structure. No options have been ruled in or out at this stage.
Mr. Ken Hargreaves : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment on what dates revenue support grant and non-domestic rates will be paid to local authorities in 1991-92.
Mr. Portillo : Details of the profile of revenue support grant payments for England for the next financial year have been sent by my Department to local authorities. A copy of the Department's letter has been placed in the Library. The profile, which was determined after consultation with the local authority associations, should ensure that authorities who are diligent in collecting the community charge and non-domestic rates will be able to maintain an adequate cash flow.
Column 20
Household Sizes
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for each standard region the number of households with one, two, three and four or more adults.
Mr. Key : Estimates of the numbers of households with one, two and three or more adults for each standard region are given in the table. These estimates are based on family expenditure survey data from 1987, 1988 and 1989.
Thousands
Region |One adult |Two adult |Three or more
|households |households |adult household
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northern |455 |745 |200
Yorks and Humberside |745 |1,175 |270
North-West |920 |1,420 |375
East Midlands |530 |945 |225
West Midlands |690 |1,220 |345
East Anglia |285 |545 |115
Greater London |1,075 |1,285 |305
Rest of South-East |1,310 |2,580 |560
South-West |585 |1,145 |255
Column 21
Radiation
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to implement the recommendation of the National Radiological Protection Board to reduce the maximum exposure to radiation for members of the public to 0.5 mSv per annum ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Baldry : The recommendations made by the National Radiological Protection Board are firstly that the dose limit for members of the public should be 1 mSv in a year and, secondly, since individuals may be exposed to more than one radiation source, that the maximum dose from any single source should not be more than 0.5 mSv in a year. Since 1984, authorisations for the disposal of radioactive waste under the Radioactive Substances Act 1960 have been based on these recommendations.
Community Charge
Mr. Fry : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will bring forward legislation to exempt from the community charge the British wives of United States service personnel resident in the United Kingdom.
Mr. Key : The Government have not sought such an exemption because we concluded that these United Kingdom citizens need not be treated differently from other United Kingdom citizens.
Rechar (Easington)
Mr. Cummings : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement concerning additionality in relation to the Rechar programme application by the Easington district council.
Mr. Yeo : In setting annually the level of public expenditure programmes for local authorities, including Easington, account is taken of anticipated European Community receipts including initiatives such as Rechar. Consequently, these programmes are larger than they would otherwise be. In addition, for 1990-91 the other services block was "top sliced" by £25 million for distribution as supplementary credit approvals to local authorities in receipt of European regional development funds. In the light of representations from local authorities it is proposed to increase the top slice to £45 million for this purpose in 1991-92.
Disabled People
Mr. Win Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on the impact on disabled people of the use of domestic rate relief.
Mr. Key : Under the Rating (Disabled Persons) Act 1978 local authorities were required, on application from the occupier of a dwelling, to grant rate rebates in respect of facilities provided for the disabled. With the abolition of domestic rates, these provisions of the Act have been repealed.
Ecological Experts (Norway)
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment who represented his Department at the lecture by Professor I. S. Gray of the university of Oslo on
Column 22
ecological advice and the law in Norway ; what report has been made in relation to the system whereby Government White Papers in Norway are sent to ecological experts before presentation to the Norwegian Storting ; and if he will make a statement.Mr. Baldry : The chief scientist of my Department was present at this meeting of the British Ecological Society, at which Professor Gray's presentation, among others, was made. I understand that a report of the meeting is being prepared by the British Ecological Society.
Anchor Complex Inquiry
Mr. Mudd : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he received the report of the inspector appointed to consider the Anchor complex inquiry, Penryn, Cornwall ; if he has consulted English Heritage on the contents of that report ; when he intends announcing his decision ; and if will make it his policy to deal with the matter with the utmost urgency.
Mr. Yeo : My right hon. Friend received the inspector's report on the inquiry into the proposed development at the Anchor warehouse complex, Penryn on 28 August 1990. He has not consulted English Heritage on the contents of the inspector's report because he has no locus to do so. His decision will be issued as soon as possible.
Used Tyres
Mr. Madel : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has as to the number and location of sites in England that have been used for the underground burial of used tyres ; how regularly these sites are inspected to check on their safety and any general environmental implications that they may have ; if he will make this information available to the public ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Baldry : Information on the number and location of sites used for the underground burial of used tyres is not held centrally. Her Majesty's chief inspector of fire services wrote to the Chief and Assistant Fire Officers Association in May about the problem posed by tyre dumps. Responses from chief fire officers gave some indication of the number of tyre dumps in particular areas. My Department will be writing to local authorities in the new year to seek further information on the location of tyre dumps.
The disposal of waste by landfill is licensed by waste disposal authorities under the Control of Pollution Act 1974. Individual site licences may set down conditions relating to the disposal of used tyres. Used tyres which cannot be remoulded or retreaded are commonly shreded prior to disposal by landfill where they are mixed with other waste.
The monitoring of licensed waste disposal sites is carried out by waste disposal authorities. These authorities have a duty to maintain a register of all disposal licences issued by them which are in force and to make this register available to the public.
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