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Mr. Garel-Jones : The Fisheries Council will possibly meet on 17 January and may discuss 1991 total allowable catches and quotas, agreement between the EC and Norway, agreement between the EC and Sweden, agreement between the EC and the Faroes, agreement between the EC and NAFO, agreement between the EC and French Guyana, total allowable catches and quotas for Spanish and Portuguese waters, the 10th amendment to technical conservation measures, autonomous tariff quotas and tariff suspensions and the amendment to the structures regulation.
The Agriculture Council will meet on 21 and 22 January and will discuss the review of the sugar regime and the beef balance sheet. Other items which may be discussed are organic agricultural production, GATT beef quotas, GATT agriculture, GATT accompanying measures, presentation of 1991 agricultural prices proposals, fish hygiene and bivalve molluscs.
The Economic and Finance Council will meet on 28 January to conduct a multilateral surveillance of the economies of member states. It is likely that other items for discussion will include the abolition of fiscal frontiers and assistance to central and eastern Europe.
Gibraltar
Mr. Simon Coombs : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support Gibraltar has received from the European Community's structural funds.
Mr. Garel-Jones : Gibraltar is to receive £237,223 from the United Kingdom's 1990 European social fund allocation to finance training and just under £2 million--2.8 million ecu--from the European regional development fund to assist in the conversion of a warehouse into small business premises. These are the first awards that Gibraltar has received from the structural funds.
SOCIAL SECURITY
Blindness
Sir Russell Johnston : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if his Department has any plans to recompense for the additional costs of blindness those
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claimants who are registered blind aged over 80 years and whose income support currently makes no provision in relation to their additional problems.Miss Widdecombe : People who are registered blind and aged 60 years or more automatically qualify for the higher pensioner premium, which provides an extra £17.05 a week for single people and £24.25 a week for couples on top of their personal allowances. In addition, blind people can qualify for the severe disability premium, worth £28.20 a week, if they receive attendance allowance, nobody else lives with them and no one gets invalid care allowance in respect of their care. There are no plans to change these arrangements.
Food Vouchers
Mr. Wareing : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if food vouchers are used as a suitable method of paying crisis loans in circumstances other than where the need has arisen because of the claimant's loss of money due to recklessness.
Mr. Scott : The power to make a payment out of the social fund under section 32(2)(b) of the Social Security Act 1986 may be exercised by making a payment to a third party with a view to the third party providing, or arranging for the provision of, goods or services to the applicant.
The method of payment is a matter for consideration in the circumstances of each individual case. Information relating to the ways in which local offices make payments for crisis loans in individual cases is not available.
Mr. Wareing : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of crisis loans have been awarded as food vouchers for each month since April 1988 (a) nationally, (b) regionally and (c) in each of his Department's local office areas.
Mr. Scott : The information requested is not available.
Deaf People
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether the new telephone line that will be set up to help disabled people claim benefits will include a minicom for deaf people.
Mr. Scott : The benefit inquiry line, which has been operating in Berkshire for a trial period of six months, includes the minicom facility for deaf people. Such a facility would be part of any extension to the system.
Community Charge (Strathclyde)
Mr. Watson : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list in respect of the 1989-90 community charge rebate scheme for Strathclyde regional council (a) how many applications have been received, (b) how many applications have been approved, (c) to how many applicants payment of rebate has been made and (d) how much in total has been paid out in rebates.
Miss Widdecombe : The information requested is not available. However, in December 1989 Strathclyde regional council estimated that its expenditure on community charge rebates in 1989-90 would be around £100 million and, in November 1989, 520,000 claimants were in receipt of a community charge rebate. Claims from couples are counted as one.
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Source : 1. Housing and Community Charge Benefit Management Information System November 1989 quarterly stock count of claims. 2. Estimate of Community Charge Rebate expenditure prepared by Strathclyde Regional Council.Disability Living Allowance
Mr. Alfred Morris : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security at what age a child in normal physical and mental health will be regarded as not requiring guidance and supervision for the purposes of entitlement to the lower mobility component of disability living allowance ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Scott [holding answer 20 December 1990] : We have no plans to specify the age at which children normally cease to require guidance or supervision. The aim is to compare the requirements of a disabled child under age 16 with those of a child of the same age in normal physical and mental health. These reduce as children grow older and the Bill currently before Parliament recognises that, eventually, a point is reached when a child in normal physical and mental health will no longer require any guidance or supervision.
WALES
Alcohol Misuse
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what factors influenced his decision on the timing of the announcement in respect of the criteria to be applied to applications from organisations seeking to develop local services in Wales for those involved in alcohol misuse.
Mr. Nicholas Bennett : The criteria set for bids for funding projects to combat alcohol misuse were primarily influenced by the experience gained in operating a similar central funding initiative in respect of drug misuse.
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are the reasons for the delays from the initial announcements of plans for a campaign to tackle alcohol misuse and from the announcement of the amount of cash available for his Department to make details available and to invite applications from organisations concerned with the provision of local services in Wales in respect of alcohol misuse.
Mr. Nicholas Bennett : Following the announcement that central resources were being made available to combat alcohol misuse, it was necessary to establish a framework within which expenditure would be utilised and to seek the views of local agencies as to how the resources might best be deployed.
Health Authorities
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether any account will be taken of projected land sales in determining his Department's annual level of contribution to each health authority in Wales (a) in 1990-91, (b) in 1991-92 and (c) in subsequent years.
Mr. Nicholas Bennett : At present, district health authorities in Wales benefit from the proceeds of surplus land and buildings, unless the facilities become surplus as a consequence of a centrally funded development. In these
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cases, the receipts are used to offset the cost of the development. No account is taken of the expected level of receipts in determining each health authority's share of capital funds, and authorities which are able to realise land sales have therefore benefited directly by the amounts raised enabling them to develop and improve health services. These arrangements, including the treatment of the receipts from surplus mental handicap and mental illness hospitals which should contribute to the development of alternative patterns of care, are described in the land transactions handbook.Under the new arrangements proposed for capital funding for introduction in 1992-93, after a transitional period all proceeds from sales will be retained centrally and used to contribute to the cost of new developments. This is intended to ensure that the benefits from such sales should be used wherever they provide the best return in terms of health gain or improved efficiency. These arrangements are described in the consultation paper "The Health Service in Wales Implementing the White Paper : Capital Allocations" and copies are in the Library of the House. Because of the volume of capital developments that is currently in the pipeline or otherwise committed, and the time taken to complete new developments, the proposed arrangements would be phased in over a number of years. These transitional arrangements and details of the way in which it is decided that the new system should work will be announced in due course. However, for 1991-92, the current arrangements will continue to apply.
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proportion of their land sales will be retained by health authorities in Wales (a) in 1990-91, (b) 1991-92 and (c) in 1992-93 and future financial years.
Mr. Nicholas Bennett : District health authorities are currently entitled to retain and use the proceeds from the sale of land and buildings no longer needed by the health service except in those cases where the property has become surplus as a result of a closure following the provision of a centrally funded scheme. In such cases proceeds are returned to the all-Wales provision. Most receipts are retained by health authorities. The proportion of proceeds retained by health authorities in any year will depend on the particular sales which are completed during that year about which it is not possible to speculate.
These arrangements will continue in 1991-92. For 1992-93 and subsequent years, new arrangements for capital funding are in prospect. I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given to him today on that subject.
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list for each district health authority and special health authority in Wales for each of the last five years, 1985-86 to 1990-91, (a) the costs his Department considered in advance that the authority should achieve in efficiency savings, (b) the actual savings achieved and (c) the percentage of the previous year's (i) budget and (ii) actual expenditure represented by (a) and (b) in each case.
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Mr. Nicholas Bennett : Financial targets in respect of efficiency savings to be achieved through cost improvement in the NHS in Wales were first introduced in 1989-90. Monitoring of health authorities' cost improvement programmes began in 1988. Estimates of the new recurrent savings achieved by district health authorities and the Welsh health common services authority in 1985-86, 1986-87 and 1987-88 are set out in the following table together with reported savings in 1988-89 and 1989-90 and the savings expected to be achieved in 1990-91. The cost improvement targets set for 1989-90 and 1990-91 are also shown. The equivalent information for the health promotion authority for Wales is not available.
Table 1: 1985-86
Recurring savings as a
percentage of:
Health authority |Recurring |1984-85 |1984-85
|revenue |recurrent |revenue
|efficiency |revenue |expenditure
|savings |allocations
|achieved in
|1985-86<1>
|(£000s) |Per cent. |Per cent.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Clwyd |824 |1.2 |1.2
East Dyfed |336 |0.8 |0.7
Gwent |797 |0.9 |0.9
Gwynedd |240 |0.6 |0.5
Mid Glamorgan |971 |1.0 |0.9
Pembrokeshire |107 |0.7 |0.7
Powys |205 |1.0 |1.0
South Glamorgan |1,176 |1.0 |1.0
West Glamorgan |361 |0.5 |0.5
Welsh health common
services authority |10 |0.2 |0.2
<1> New recurring savings estimated to have been achieved in 1985-86 at the time an
efficiency scrutiny of cash-releasing cost improvements in the NHS in Wales was
conducted in 1988.
\~Table 2: 1986-87
Health authority Recurring Recurring savings as a
revenue percentage of:
|efficiency |1985-86 |1985-86
|savings |recurrent |revenue
|achieved in|revenue |expenditure
|1986-87<1> |allocations
|£000 |per cent. |per cent.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Clwyd |95 |0.1 |0.1
East Dyfed |602 |1.3 |1.3
Gwent |903 |1.0 |1.0
Gwynedd |234 |0.5 |0.5
Mid Glamorgan |1,045 |1.0 |0.9
Pembrokeshire |386 |2.3 |2.4
Powys |236 |1.1 |1.1
South Glamorgan |1,365 |1.1 |1.1
West Glamorgan |507 |0.7 |0.7
Welsh Health Common
Services Authority |35 |0.8 |0.7
<1> New recurring savings estimated to have been achieved in 1986-87
at the time an efficiency scrutiny of cash-releasing cost
improvements in the National Health Service in Wales was conducted
in 1988.
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Table 3: 1987-88
Recurring savings as a percentage of:
Health authority |Recurring revenue |1986-87 |1986-87
|efficiency savings |recurrent revenue |revenue
|achieved in 1987-88<1>|allocations |expenditure
|(£000s) |(Per cent.) |(Per cent.)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Clwyd |260 |0.3 |0.3
East Dyfed |518 |1.0 |1.0
Gwent |661 |0.7 |0.7
Gwynedd |654 |1.3 |1.3
Mid Glamorgan |1,563 |1.3 |1.3
Pembrokeshire |98 |0.5 |0.6
Powys |123 |0.5 |0.5
South Glamorgan |963 |0.7 |0.7
West Glamorgan |1,073 |1.3 |1.3
Welsh Health Common Services
Authority |30 |0.6 |0.5
<1>New recurring savings estimated to have been achieved in 1987-88 at the time an efficiency scrutiny of cash-releasing
cost improvements in the National Health Service in Wales was conducted in 1988.
Table 4: 1988-89
Recurring savings as a percentage
of:
Health authority |Recurring re- |1987-88 recur- |1987-88 revenue
|venue efficiency|rent revenue |expenditure
|savings achieved|allocations
|in 1988-89<1>
|(£000s) |percentage |percentage
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Clwyd |909 |1.0 |1.0
East Dyfed |1,157 |2.1 |2.0
Gwent |1,791 |1.7 |1.6
Gwynedd |639 |1.2 |1.1
Mid Glamorgan |1,759 |1.4 |1.3
Pembrokeshire |311 |1.5 |1.6
Powys |146 |0.6 |0.6
South Glamorgan |1,027 |0.7 |0.7
West Glamorgan |802 |0.9 |0.9
Welsh Health Common Services
Authority |8 |0.1 |0.1
<1> New recurring savings reported by health authorities.
Table 5: 1989-90
Target as a percentage of: Recurring savings as a
percentage of:
Health authority |Cash releasing |1988-89 |1988-89 |Recurring |1988-89 |1988-89
|cost improve- |recurrent |revenue |revenue |recurrent |revenue
|ment target |revenue |expenditure |efficiency |revenue |expenditure
|allocations |savings |allocations
|achieved in
|1989-90<1>
|(£000s) |(Per cent.) |(Per cent.) |(£000s) |(Per cent.) |(Per cent.)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Clwyd |1,170 |1.2 |1.1 |710 |0.7 |0.7
East Dyfed |741 |1.2 |1.2 |1,116 |1.9 |1.7
Gwent |1,392 |1.2 |1.1 |1,347 |1.2 |1.1
Gwynedd |701 |1.2 |1.1 |492 |0.9 |0.8
Mid Glamorgan |1,638 |1.2 |1.1 |1,355 |1.1 |0.9
Pembrokeshire |279 |1.2 |1.2 |249 |1.1 |1.1
Powys |334 |1.2 |1.2 |267 |1.0 |0.9
South Glamorgan |1,870 |1.2 |1.1 |1,702 |1.1 |1.0
West Glamorgan |1,205 |1.2 |1.2 |1,069 |1.1 |1.0
Welsh Health Common Services Authority |87 |1.4 |0.9 |43 |0.7 |0.4
<1>New recurring savings reported by health authorities.
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Table 6: 1990-91
Target as a percentage of: Recurring savings as a
percentage of:
Health authority |Cash releasing |1989-90 |1989-90 |Estimated |1989-90 |1989-90
|cost improve- |recurrent |revenue |recurring |recurrent |revenue
|ment target |revenue |expenditure |revenue |revenue |expenditure
|allocations |efficiency |allocations
|savings
|in 1990-91<1>
|(£000s) |(Per cent.) |(Per cent.) |(£000s) |(Per cent.) |(Per cent.)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Clwyd |1,282 |1.2 |1.2 |1,338 |1.3 |1.2
East Dyfed |824 |1.2 |1.2 |939 |1.4 |1.4
Gwent |1,518 |1.2 |1.2 |1,746 |1.4 |1.3
Gwynedd |761 |1.2 |1.1 |717 |1.1 |1.1
Mid Glamorgan |1,776 |1.2 |1.2 |1,679 |1.1 |1.1
Pembrokeshire |312 |1.2 |1.2 |344 |1.4 |1.3
Powys |367 |1.2 |1.2 |666 |2.2 |2.2
South Glamorgan |2,079 |1.2 |1.1 |2,016 |1.2 |1.1
West Glamorgan |1,312 |1.2 |1.2 |1,212 |1.1 |1.1
Welsh Health Common Services
Authority |94 |1.2 |0.9 |50 |0.7 |0.5
<1>Estimated new recurring savings reported by health authorities.
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a list showing how much has been spent (a) by the Welsh Office itself and (b) by each health authority in Wales on training for the people recently appointed by him to the new health authority boards.
Mr. Nicholas Bennett : I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave him on 14 January 1991.
Bronllys Hospital
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will investigate Powys health authority's inability recently to find money for a replacement washing machine for ward D at Bronllys hospital.
Mr. Nicholas Bennett : Powys health authority advises that no request has been made for a washing machine to be located on Defynnog ward.
Llangoed Hall
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will order an investigation into Powys health authority's expenditure on a weekend at Llangoed Hall near Brecon.
Mr. Nicholas Bennett : No ; this is a matter for Powys health authority.
Laura Ashley Factory, Clwyd
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement concerning the future of the Laura Ashley factory at Leeswood, Clwyd.
Mr. David Hunt : The WDA is continuing its efforts to work with Laura Ashley to find purchasers. Detailed discussions are currently taking place with at least one interested company. My Department is being kept closely informed.
School Curriculum
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement concerning the national curriculum for pupils from the age of 14 years.
Sir Wyn Roberts : We intend to make a statement shortly.
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Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement concerning the teaching of (a) arts and music, (b) technology, (c) history and (d) geography from the age of 14 years.
Sir Wyn Roberts : We intend to make a statement shortly.
Industrial Development, Clwyd
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement concerning his plans to assist the development of the Warren Hall, Broughton, Clwyd site for modern industry.
Mr. David Hunt : I am advised that the Welsh Development Agency is exploring the possibility of a partnership development with the owners to bring the land forward for business use.
Castle Cement Factory, Clwyd
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will visit the Castle Cement factory, Clwyd, to meet the work force.
Mr. David Hunt : As the hon. Gentleman knows, I met a delegation from Castle Cement on 18 December.
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what action he will take concerning the proposed loss of jobs at the Castle Cement factory, Clwyd.
Mr. David Hunt : It is very much regretted that the company consider it necessary to take such steps. The Welsh Development Agency will take these proposed job losses into account in planning its future activities and will review its plans in the light of continuing developments.
Roads
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will indicate the initiatives taken to advance the construction of the relief road of Shotton and Connah's Quay and the proposed new road bridge over the River Dee.
Sir Wyn Roberts : The timing of the scheme is a matter for Clwyd county council as the responsible highway authority. Preparation costs have been accepted for transport grant support in 1991-92.
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Owens-Corming, Clwyd
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what action he proposes consequent upon the loss of jobs at Owens-Corming at Llay, Clwyd.
Mr. David Hunt : These job losses are very much regretted. The Welsh Development Agency will take these job losses into account in planning its future activities and will review its plans in the light of continuing developments.
Water Charges
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what sanctions are available to him if the guidelines and criteria produced by the Director General of Water Services on methods of charging for water are disregarded.
Mr. Nicholas Bennett [holding answer 14 January] : I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given to him on 14 January by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Environment.
SCOTLAND
Noble Organisation
Mr. Dunnachie : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has considered the terms of the judgment of dismissal given by the Court of Session on 7 December of the appeal by Glasgow district council in the matter of the provision of an entertainments licence to the Noble Organisation at premises in Duke street, Glasgow ; and if he will make a statement.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : The terms of the Court of Session's judgment in this case have been noted. The Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 is to be the subject of a consultative review next year and interested parties will have the opportunity to submit representations on the operation of its provisions.
Business Rates
Mr. McFall : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his latest estimate of non-payment of business rates for the years 1989-90 and 1990-91.
Mr. Allan Stewart : The information is not available centrally.
Rural Communities
Mr. Hood : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what level of resources will be provided for the rural communities of Scotland in the 1991-92 financial year.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : The components of expenditure programmes which are relevant to rural areas are not separately identified.
Gipsy Sites
Mr. Hood : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the Official Report a list of all established gipsy sites in Scotland, indicating when they were established at each site.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : The travelling people's sites run by local authorities in Scotland are listed in the
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table. In addition to them, it is estimated that around 240 pitches are regularly used by travelling people on privately run sites.
Local Authority |Location |Established
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Permanent Sites
Aberdeen |Clinterty, Aberdeen |November 1982
Angus |Tayock, Montrose |November 1980
Argyll and Bute |Dunchologan, |December 1978
| Lochgilphead
Argyll and Bute |Torlochan, Dunoon |December 1984
Banff and Buchan<1> |Greenbanks, Banff |May 1989
Clackmannan |Westhaugh, Alva |December 1984
Cumnock and Doon Auchinleck, Cumnock Early 1980s
Valley<2>
Cunninghame |Merkland Bridge, |September 1982
| Arran
Cunninghame |Redburn, Irvine |July 1989
Dumbarton Dennystown, Dumbarton July 1981
East Kilbride |Springbank, East |April 1990
| Kilbride
Edinburgh |Duddingston, |August 1983
| Edinburgh
Falkirk |Redding, Falkirk |June 1985
Glasgow |Carmyle, Glasgow |June 1985
Glasgow |Rodney Street, Port |April 1990
| Dundas
Hamilton |Swinhill, Larkhall |January 1987
Inverness |Longman, Inverness |September 1985
Kyle and Carrick |Houdston Farm, |February 1989
| Girvan
Lochaber |Aonachan, Spean |September 1989
| Bridge
Monklands |Annathill, Glenboig |August 1989
Motherwell |Mossend, Bellshill |April 1982
North East Fife |Tarvit Mill, Cupar |May 1988
Perth and Kinross |Double Dykes, Perth |December 1982
Renfrew |Oldbarhills, Hurlet,|November 1989
| Barrhead
Tweedale<2> |Kilnknowe, |Early 1980s
| Innerleithen
Temporary Site
Stirling |Craigforth, Stirling|January 1984
<1> Seasonal site.
<2> Local authority caravan site.
Opencast Mining
Mr. Hood : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many planning applications refused by local authorities regarding opencast mining have been upheld by the Scottish Office ; and if he will give this information in percentage terms.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : Local authorities assumed responsibilities for approving proposals for opencast coal mining on 11 December 1987. Since then my right hon. Friend has determined seven appeals against refusal of permission and has upheld three (43 per cent.)
Mr. Hood : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has had from the Law Mining Company concerning its planning application for opencast coal reserves at Townhead, near Rigside, within Clydesdale constituency ; and if he will make a statement.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : The company's planning appeal concerning its application to extract coal and fireclay by opencast operations at Townhead near Rigside is due to be heard at a public inquiry in Rigside village hall, commencing on 29 January. As this appeal is to be determined by the chief reporter, under delegated powers, the hon. Gentleman will appreciate that it would not be
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appropriate for me to comment on the merits or otherwise of the proposals, but he may be assured that before reaching a decision the reporter will give all aspects of the matter the most careful consideration.New St. Andrew's House
Mr. Darling : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what consideration he has given to removing the Scottish Office from New St. Andrew's house to alternative accommodation in Edinburgh ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Lang : In the light of the work needed to remove asbestos from New St. Andrew's house and refurbish the building consideration is being given to a number of options for the longer-term accommodation strategy of the Scottish Office. No decisions have yet been taken.
Mr. Darling : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the estimated cost of the renovation work required to upgrade the Scottish Office premises at New St. Andrew's house, Edinburgh recommended by the Property Services Agency report.
Mr. Lang : As part of the reinstatement of the building after removal of asbestos Property Holdings would propose to refurbish the building to a high standard. The report by PSA Building Management, which was commissioned by Property Holdings, sets out a number of options for additional enhancement of the building, the total cost of which if they were implemented would amount to some £5 million, excluding fees and VAT.
Mr. Darling : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if it is proposed to evacuate all staff employed at New St. Andrew's house, Edinburgh while the asbestos is removed.
Mr. Lang : The work programme for the removal of asbestos is still under consideration.
Mr. Darling : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the estimated cost of removing all asbestos from the Scottish Office at New St. Andrew's house, Edinburgh.
Mr. Lang : The report commissioned by Property Holdings estimates the cost of removing the asbestos and reinstating the building to an appropriate standard as between £6.3 million and £8.6 million, excluding fees and VAT, depending on the work programme adopted.
Mr. Darling : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the estimated cost of the improvement to the ventilation system at the Scottish Office at New St. Andrew's house, Edinburgh.
Mr. Lang : A number of possible alternative ways in which the heating, ventilation and air conditioning in New
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St. Andrew's house might be improved are under consideration ; accurate cost figures cannot be given at this stage.Non-domestic Rates
Mr. Bill Walker : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on non-domestic rates for 1991-92.
Mr. Lang : As a result of our policy of reducing Scottish business rate poundages to the level of the English national non-domestic rate, Scottish businesses will pay £58 million less in rates next year than they otherwise would have done. This is a reduction of almost 5 per cent. The total reduction due to this policy and our earlier decision to limit increases in poundages to no more than inflation from 1989-90 onwards is £230 million. That saving has been of great value to Scottish business and therefore to investment and employment levels.
The reduction of £58 million is larger than had been allowed for in drawing up the spending plans we made last year and £48 million of it will be met by increased revenue support grant to local authorities. Local authorities are being asked to contribute the remaining £10 million through efficiency savings.
The table shows the rate poundage which I intend to prescribe for each local authority in regulations that I shall lay before Parliament this week.
I am aware that Scottish business would like us to make faster progress towards full harmonisation, but we have to balance the costs of funding this policy with the pressures on the taxpayer and with the level of community charges. The decision to reduce business rates and to increase revenue support grant next year beyond our original plans at a time when resources are scarce does, I believe, demonstrate the high priority that we give to it. We remain committed to eliminating the difference between Scotland and England over the same timetable as the national non-domestic rate is phased in south of the border.
As last year, the reduction in poundages will be accompanied by an associated reduction in derating : from 35 to 32 per cent. Also as last year, this will apply across the board to all authorities in Scotland. However, a number of representations have been made to my Department suggesting, for example, that reductions in rates should be made differently in future, in order to give earlier benefits to higher-rated areas, or that a single level of derating for manufacturing and freight industry is particularly generous in those areas which have relatively low rates. I shall be reviewing these matters and our progress towards harmonisation, including the powers available to me, during the coming year to see whether a different approach might be adopted in future. In this context I will welcome the views of interested bodies.
Column 483
|1 |2 |3 |4 |5
|1990-91 |1991-92 |1991-92 |1991-92
|Poundages |Pre-NNDR |Poundages |Poundages |Reduction
|Reduction |at |to
|Ratepayer |Ratepayer
|Level
Borders |36.0 |39.9 |37.9
Central |41.7 |46.2 |43.9
Dumfries and Galloway |38.3 |42.5 |40.4
Fife |46.1 |51.1 |48.6
Grampian |34.2 |37.9 |36.0
Highland |41.3 |45.8 |43.5
Lothian |47.5 |52.7 |50.0
Strathclyde |46.0 |51.0 |48.5
Tayside |43.0 |47.7 |45.3
Berwickshire |7.5 |8.3 |7.9 |45.8 |2.4
Ettrick and Lauderdale |8.5 |9.4 |9.0 |46.9 |2.4
Roxburgh |9.4 |10.4 |9.9 |47.8 |2.5
Tweeddale |7.2 |8.0 |7.6 |45.5 |2.4
Clackmannan |14.9 |16.5 |15.7 |59.6 |3.1
Falkirk |12.2 |13.5 |12.9 |56.8 |2.9
Stirling |18.1 |20.1 |19.1 |63.0 |3.3
Annandale and Eskdale |9.1 |10.1 |9.6 |50.0 |2.6
Nithsdale |9.1 |10.1 |9.6 |50.0 |2.6
Stewartry |7.9 |8.8 |8.3 |48.7 |2.6
Wigtown |7.4 |8.2 |7.8 |48.2 |2.5
Dunfermline |10.1 |11.2 |10.6 |59.2 |3.1
Kirkcaldy |12.6 |14.0 |13.3 |61.9 |3.2
North East Fife |11.3 |12.5 |11.9 |60.5 |3.1
Aberdeen City |11.0 |12.2 |11.6 |47.6 |2.5
Banff and Buchan |9.8 |10.9 |10.3 |46.3 |2.5
Gordon |7.9 |8.8 |8.3 |44.3 |2.4
Kincardine and Deeside |6.5 |7.2 |6.8 |42.8 |2.3
Moray |8.2 |9.1 |8.6 |44.6 |2.4
Badenoch and Strathspey |6.3 |7.0 |6.6 |50.1 |2.7
Caithness |9.8 |10.9 |10.3 |53.8 |2.9
Inverness |7.5 |8.3 |7.9 |51.4 |2.7
Lochaber |11.4 |12.6 |12.0 |55.5 |2.9
Nairn |6.3 |7.0 |6.6 |50.1 |2.7
Ross and Cromarty |9.8 |10.9 |10.3 |53.8 |2.9
Skye and Lochalsh |9.4 |10.4 |9.9 |53.4 |2.8
Sutherland |7.1 |7.9 |7.5 |51.0 |2.7
East Lothian |13.4 |14.9 |14.1 |64.1 |3.5
Edinburgh City |13.1 |14.5 |13.8 |63.8 |3.4
Midlothian |13.4 |14.9 |14.1 |64.1 |3.5
West Lothian |11.8 |13.1 |12.4 |62.4 |3.4
Argyll and Bute |14.9 |16.5 |15.7 |64.2 |3.3
Bearsden and Milngavie |10.3 |11.4 |10.9 |59.4 |3.0
Clydebank |15.3 |17.0 |16.1 |64.6 |3.4
Clydesdale |13.2 |14.6 |13.9 |62.4 |3.2
Cumbernauld and Kilsyth |13.0 |14.4 |13.7 |62.2 |3.2
Cumnock and Doon Valley |13.4 |14.9 |14.1 |62.6 |3.3
Cunninghame |16.1 |17.9 |17.0 |65.5 |3.4
Dumbarton |14.9 |16.5 |15.7 |64.2 |3.3
East Kilbride |11.2 |12.4 |11.8 |60.3 |3.1
Eastwood |7.9 |8.8 |8.3 |56.8 |3.0
Glasgow City |20.9 |23.2 |22.0 |70.5 |3.7
Hamilton |14.2 |15.7 |15.0 |63.5 |3.2
Inverclyde |12.6 |14.0 |13.3 |61.8 |3.2
Kilmarnock and Loudoun |13.0 |14.4 |13.7 |62.2 |3.2
Kyle and Carrick |13.4 |14.9 |14.1 |62.6 |3.3
Monklands |14.2 |15.7 |15.0 |63.5 |3.2
Motherwell |12.9 |14.3 |13.6 |62.1 |3.2
Renfrew |14.2 |15.7 |15.0 |63.5 |3.2
Strathkelvin |12.6 |14.0 |13.3 |61.8 |3.2
Angus |10.6 |11.8 |11.2 |56.5 |3.0
Dundee City |16.9 |18.7 |17.8 |63.1 |3.3
Perth and Kinross |11.0 |12.2 |11.6 |56.9 |3.0
Orkney |39.3 |43.6 |41.4 |41.4 |2.2
Shetland |37.1 |41.1 |39.1 |39.1 |2.0
Western Isles |57.6 |63.9 |60.7 |60.7 |3.2
Landfill Gas
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what support is being given to local authorities, other than urging them to act on the recommendations on waste management paper No. 27 "The Control of Landfill Gas" on sites other than those which are commercially viable.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 14 January 1991] : It is for local authorities to make my right
Column 486
hon. Friend aware of their need to incur expenditure on the control of landfill gas, through their financial plans. Where authorities have identified gas control schemes in their plans, priority has been given to these schemes when consent allocations have been determined.Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will detail the landfill sites at which energy recovery is (a) now under way and (b) being considered for the future.
Column 487
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 14 January 1991] : We are not aware of any sites in Scotland where energy recovery is practised. Information on current and planned operations may be obtained from the district and islands councils which are responsible for regulating waste disposal activities, but they may not be aware of future plans of private operators whose proposals may be commercially confidential.HOUSE OF COMMONS
Satellite Television
Mr. Ashton : To ask the Lord President of the Council (1) what would be the cost of installing satellite Sky television in a special viewing room in the House ; and if he will make arrangements to do so after the Christmas recess ;
(2) what consideration has been given to making it possible to watch satellite television in the television rooms.
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