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Written Answers to Questions
Friday 15 February 1991
ENERGY
Electricity Privatisation
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what estimates he has available to him of the effect on potential first-time share buyers of the use of well-known recent television series characters in the flotation advertising campaigns for the electricity (a) distribution and (b) generating companies.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : No estimates of the effect of the advertising campaigns on first-time share buyers have been made. The purpose of the advertising campaigns has been to inform members of the general public about the flotations, whether or not they have bought shares before.
HOME DEPARTMENT
Prisoners (Letters)
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to ensure that all prisoners writing to their hon. Members from any of Her Majesty's prison establishments give their home address in the letter in order that any hon. Member receiving the letter is immediately able to confirm that the writer is in fact a constituent.
Mrs. Rumbold : Prison standing order 5D3, a copy of which is in the Library, states that prisoners should be advised that letters to hon. Members should show the home address, if the prisoner has one. This is now covered in the information booklets for prisoners. It is not generally practicable, however, to ensure that prisoners comply with the recommended procedure as the routine reading of prisoners' mail has been abolished for category D prisoners and reduced to a small sample for category C prisoners.
Entry Refusals
Sir David Steel : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria are used to decide what figures are kept for those from (a) India, Pakistan and Bangladesh and (b) non-EC Europe and North America who are refused entry into the United Kingdom under primary purpose rules.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : The collection of data on persons outside the Indian sub-continent applying for entry clearance for settlement in the United Kingdom was terminated at the end of 1979 because it was considered that its usefulness did not justify the resources required to undertake it. Information continues to be collected on persons applying in the sub- continent because of the large number of applications there. Since 1983 this information has included the reason(s) for refusal for spouses and fiance (e)s refused entry clearance.
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OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT
Overseas Aid
Mr. Wray : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what EC funds for 1991-92 have been allocated to assist (a) economic, (b) environmental, (c) social, (d) scientific, (e) technical and (f) cultural programmes in (i) Africa, (ii) Asia and (iii) Latin America.
Mrs. Chalker : The countries of Africa included in the Lome convention have been allocated 4,685.5 million ecu (about £3,245 million) for the period 1990 to 1995. This figure is not allocated in advance as between individual years or categories of aid. The European Community's approved budget for 1991 does not distinguish between the categories of aid required. The total payments provision for 1991 for Asia is 175.9 million ecu (about £122 million), and for Latin America 111.2 million ecu (about £77 million).
Know-how Funds
Mr. Atkinson : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has any plans to extend the scope of the know- how fund for central and eastern European countries to include the education and training of non-governmental organisations in the monitoring of human rights and the practical experience of international law ; and if he will make a statement.
Mrs. Chalker : The main priorities of the know-how fund are to facilitate the transition to a market economy and a plural democracy. We have no immediate plans to extend the scope of the know-how fund as the hon. Gentleman suggests.
TRANSPORT
Falmouth Harbour
Mr. Morley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will postpone the public inquiry into the proposed Falmouth Harbour Revision Order to allow fishermen's organisations time to make full representations.
Mr. McLoughlin : Not at this late stage. The National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations registered an objection to the proposed order on 12 November 1990 after it had been advertised, and were notified on10 January 1991 that the inquiry would take place on21 February 1991.
Drink Driving
Mr. Peter Bottomley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the number of alcohol tests on drivers each week and the numbers (a) above twice the legal limit, (b) above the legal limit but below twice the limit and (c) below the legal limit.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : I have been asked to reply.
Statistics of breath tests for England and Wales are published in Home Office statistical bulletins. The most recent detailed statistics, for 1989, were published in issue number 25/90. A copy of this bulletin is in the Library.
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In 1989, in England and Wales, 540.9 thousand screening breath tests were reported and there were in addition 8,500 cases of persons arrested for impairment or required to provide an evidential sample for other reasons. The total requirement, 549.4 thousand, is equivalent to a weekly average of about 10,540 tests.Of the screening tests, 427,900 were negative, leaving a total requirement for evidential tests of 121,500. The final outcome of these evidential tests is given in table 9 of the statistical bulletin 25/90. The number of positive tests was 94,900 which is equivalent to a weekly average of about 1,820 tests. The remainder includes not only negative results but also cases where the test was refused or where a sample could not be obtained. For 37,700 of the positive tests, the outcome was more than twice the legal limit, which is equivalent to about 720 tests a week.
ENVIRONMENT
Thesis Computer System
Mr. Campbell-Savours : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what were the total costs of the Property Services Agency Thesis computer system.
Mr. Yeo : The net cost of the PSA Thesis computer system was £8.6 million.
Non-domestic Rates
Mr. Richard Shepherd : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate how many non-domestic properties in England had rate increases of (a) 10 per cent. and above and (b) 20 per cent. and above in each year from 1986-87 to 1991-92.
Mr. Portillo : Estimates of the number of non-domestic properties in England subject to increases in rate bills of 10 per cent. and over and 20 per cent. and over are shown in the table.
Non-domestic properties with rate increases
Thousands
|10 per cent.|20 per cent.
|and over |and over
----------------------------------------------------
1986-87 |2,700 |660
1987-88 |520 |70
1988-89 |1,430 |20
1989-90 |1,100 |70
1990-91 |1,000 |890
1991-92 |1,200 |720
Due to a change in the definition of non-domestic properties, following the introduction of the new system of local government finance, estimates for 1990-91 and 1991-92 are not comparable with earlier years.
The estimates for 1986-87 to 1989-90 take no account of increases in rate bills as a result of changes in rateable values following alterations of the valuation list in those years.
1851 Exhibition
Mr. Barry Field : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the holder of his office last attended a meeting of the royal commissioners for the exhibition of 1851.
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Mr. Heseltine : No Secretary of State for the Environment has attended a meeting of the royal commissioners. The then Minister for Public Buildings and Works attended a meeting on 12 December 1962.
Leisure Centres
Sir Ian Lloyd : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will publish a table showing, for each local authority, the impact on the rates and community charge of the net running costs of leisure centres as a percentage of the relevant sum for the years 1989-90 and 1990-91.
Mr. Portillo : The total of net current expenditure, debt charges and expenditure on other non-current items (such as flood defence payments to the National Rivers Authority) represents spending to be funded by revenue support grant, community charges, non-domestic rates, specific grants, interest receipts and appropriation from financial reserves in 1990 -91 ; and by block grant, rates, specific grants, interest receipts and appropriation from financial reserves in 1989-90. Authorities are free to decide, within these constraints, how spending on individual services will be allocated. The impact on the rates and community charge of spending on leisure centres cannot therefore be quantified.
The impact on net current expenditure of spending on swimming pools, sports and recreation grounds can however be shown by expressing it as a percentage of net current expenditure. I have arranged for the available information for individual authorities to be laid in the Library of the House.
Radioactive Waste Conference
Mr. Harry Barnes : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he or officials of his Department received an invitation to attend the conference on radioactive waste issues for local authorities, on 12 February.
Sellafield
Mr. Harry Barnes : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he next plans to visit Sellafield ; and for what purpose.
Mr. Baldry : My right hon. Friend plans to visit Sellafield on 26 February to open the Windscale vitrification plant.
Greening the Planet"
Mr. Harry Barnes : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to arrange a subscription for his departmental library for the new magazine "Greening the Planet".
Mr. Baldry : No. The contents of the first issue add nothing new to discussion on environmental matters.
Kirklees Metropolitan Council
Mrs. Peacock : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what the housing investment programme allocation for Kirklees metropolitan council is for 1991-92 ; and what it was for each of the preceding five years.
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Mr. Yeo : The total housing investment programme allocation for Kirklees metropolitan council for 1991-92 is currently £10.690 million. This may increase if Kirklees is successful in attracting further targeted allocations from the estate action programme or from other targeted sources. The council has been invited to work up oneestate action scheme which could attract an allocation of £0.300 million in 1991-92 and a continuation allocationof £0.860 million in 1992-93. The equivalent amounts, including all estate action and other supplementary allocations, for the financial years 1986-87 to 1990-91 were :
|£ million
------------------------------------
1986-87 |8.478
1987-88 |9.067
1988-89 |9.041
1989-90 |9.323
1990-91 |12.410
East Newcastle Quayside Development
Mr. Nicholas Brown : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what loan facilities or other financial assistance he has approved to enable the Newcastle urban development corporation to finance the public sector contribution to the east Newcastle quayside development.
Mr. Portillo : To date Tyne and Wear Development Corporation has been given approval for expenditure totalling £12.6 million in connection with the redevelopment of the east Quayside area of which it has so far spent about £5 million. In addition, land is being acquired through vesting orders approved by Parliament, on which it has spent £473,000. The Department is currently considering the full project submission.
Bristol Channel
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether an assessment has been made on the effects on the ecology of the Bristol channel resulting from the dropping of unused bombs from B52 bombers off the north Devon coast.
Mr. Baldry : No formal assessment has been made of the environmental effect of the aircraft emergency procedure for the jettisoning of unused B52 bombs in the military danger area of Hartland point. Such bombs would have been made safe before being jettisoned, and would be unlikely to have any significant environmental effect.
Land Registers
Mr. Steen : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 30 January, Official Report, column 932, if he will include in his review of ways of improving land registers, the various categories which exclude land from the register with a view to including them.
Mr. Yeo : I can confirm that our review covers how far the present exclusions might sensibly be reduced. Any detailed proposals would take account of the responses on this point to last year's consultation paper, and would be the subject of further consultation.
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Vacant Land
Mr. Steen : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate the amount of vacant, derelict, dormant, underused and under- utilised land excluded from the register because of exceptions from the rule.
Sir George Young [holding answer 14 February 1991] : There is no basis for making any such estimate. Whether a site falls within any of the exemptions will depend on circumstances peculiar to that site--for example, the timing of acquisition, planning decisions taken, or the site's physical characteristics.
Mr. Steen : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the 10 largest local authority owners of vacant, dormant, derelict, underused and under-utilised land on the register.
Sir George Young [holding answer 14 February 1991] : Information on local authority holdings of unused and underused land is held on individual authorities' registers. Complete up-to-date information is not available centrally. Information on total local authority holdings of derelict land in each area is contained in the "Survey of Derelict Land in England 1988" but the total holdings of individual authorities are not identified.
Severe Weather
Mr. Hoyle : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a one-off payment to local authorities for extra expenditure for the clearance of roads and for the provision of heating for the elderly and accommodation for the homeless during the present cold spell.
Mr. Key [holding answer 14 February 1991] : At present, we have no intention to do so. Local authorities' standard spending assessments include an allowance for the costs of clearing snow and gritting roads, and we would expect authorities to budget for snow clearance. However, if any authority can demonstrate an unusual financial burden in relation to snow clearance or other costs incurred as a result of the cold spell, they should let my Department have the details so that we may consider whether special financial assistance is justified.
The Government are meeting the costs of local authorities and voluntary bodies in relation to emergency shelters for 700 rough sleepers in London.
Finally, as my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced in the House on 12 February, the waiver of the 0 deg C temperature to qualify for a social fund cold weather payment has been extended for a further week in respect of the seven days ending on 14 February.
NORTHERN IRELAND
Dundonald Ice Bowl
Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern ireland what arrears in the values of rates are estimated as due for each of the past five years for Dundonald international ice bowl.
Mr. Needham : Rates for the years 1986-87 and 1987-88 have been paid in full. The total arrears due are £167,233.46 made up of £5, 911.64 for 1988-89, £77,900.04 for 1989-90 and £83,421.78 for 1990-91.
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Housing
Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many homes the Northern Ireland Housing Executive own at Windmills Gardens, Millisle, County Down ; when these homes were built ; how many of these homes are occupied by persons of pensionable age ; how many of these homes have full or partial heating ; and what proposals there are for the provision of central heating in these homes.
Mr. Needham : This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, but I have been advised by the chief executive that the Housing Executive owns nine dwellings at Windmill gardens, Millisle, County Down. These dwellings were built in 1965 and two are occupied by persons of pensionable age. Full central heating has been installed in two dwellings and all nine dwellings will be included in a comprehensive improvement scheme scheduled for early 1993 which will include the provision of full central heating.
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Chemical Weapons
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list in the Official Report all chemical weapons precursors which are subject to United Kingdom export controls.
Mr. Sainsbury : Chemical weapons precursors subject to control are listed in the Export of Goods (Control) (Amendment No. 6) Order 1990 made on 20 December. A copy is available in the Library.
The export of any chemical is subject to control if the exporter knows or has grounds for suspecting that it is intended for, or likely to be used in, the production of chemical weapons.
Export Control
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what orders he has made since 1979 in regard to Syria, Egypt, Israel, Libya, Iraq and Iran, in terms of a statutory instrument prohibiting the export of goods under the Import, Export and Customs Powers (Defence) Act 1939.
Mr. Sainsbury [holding answer 12 February 1991] : Export of Goods (Control) Orders were made in 1981, 1985, 1987 and 1989 under the powers of the Import, Export and Customs Powers (Defence) Act 1939, each order replacing the previous order. These orders were subject to amendment orders to add or delete goods from export control. The Export of Goods (Control) (Iraq and Kuwait Sanctions) Order 1990 (S.I. 1640) was also made under the powers of the Act. These orders prohibit the export of specified goods without a licence to all or certain destinations, including Syria, Egypt, Israel, Libya, Iraq and Iran, as appropriate.
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the goods permitted for export under the open general export licence (chemicals) of 21 December 1990.
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Mr. Sainsbury [holding answer 12 February 1991] : These goods are listed in the open general export licence (chemicals) which came into force on 31 December 1990. I am arranging for a copy to be placed in the Library.
Export Credits Guarantee Department
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will ensure that civil servants currently employed in the ECGD have freedom of choice as to whether they remain in the civil service or transfer to the proposed privatised company.
Mr. Sainsbury [holding answer 12 February 1991] : I refer to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the then Secretary of State on 18 December 1989 at cols 23-24 :
"ECGD staff will be asked whether they wish to remain within the Civil Service, or to transfer to the new company. ECGD will use its best endeavours to meet their wishes where these are consistent with the business needs of ECGD and the company."
This remains the Government's intention.
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what training and development opportunities he will make available to civil servants currently employed within the ECGD who decide that their future choice is to continue in the civil service rather than moving into a privatised company.
Mr. Sainsbury [holding answer 12 February 1991] : All staff who remain within ECGD will continue to benefit from that Department's training and career development facilities, including appropriate training if any change of job is involved. Other civil service departments would provide similar facilities for anyone who might transfer from ECGD.
Companies Act 1989
Mr. John Garrett : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many statutory instruments and codes of practice are provided for in the Companies Act 1989.
Mr. Redwood [holding answer 13 February 1991] : The Companies Act 1989 contains 46 powers exercisable by statutory instrument, and one provision recognising compliance with a code of practice as conduct expected of persons authorised to carry on investment business.
PRIME MINISTER
Coastal Zone
Ms. Walley : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list all Government Departments and non-departmental public bodies with an interest in the coastal zone.
The Prime Minister : All Government Departments may have an interest in the coast or coastal waters in the exercise of their normal duties. The same will apply to many non-departmental public bodies.
Secure Accommodation
Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Prime Minister which Department will be responsible for funding the new Social Services Department secure units required under the proposals to abolish prison remand of juveniles.
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The Prime Minister : The Department of Health already has powers to make grants to local authorities to meet the capital cost of new secure units, and intends to meet the local authority associations to discuss the nature and extent of any further secure provision required for remanded juveniles.HEALTH
Mental Hospitals
Mr. Atkinson : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that the rundown and closure of hospitals for the mentally ill does not proceed faster than the establishment of adequate resettlement and community care for the discharged patients ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Dorrell : In a recent circular HC(90)23/HASSL(90)11, a copy of which is in the Library, health authorities were asked to ensure that any reduction in the number of hospital beds does not outpace the development of alternative community services. The White Paper "Caring for People", states that we
"will not approve the closure of any mental hospital unless it can be demonstrated that adequate alternatives have been developed".
Private Care Homes
Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what provisions are made by his Department to recompense local authorities social services departments for the cost implications of taking over the running of private care homes which are de-registered.
Mr. Dorrell : No separate central provision for such contingencies is made. The very few instances of local authorities assuming temporary responsibility for the management of private care homes seem to have occurred where deregulation has been ordered by a justice of the peace. Local authority returns show that only seven such orders were made in 1989.
Residential Homes
Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on his response to the recent Care and Counsel report on privacy in private and voluntary residential homes, a copy of which he has been sent.
Mr. Dorrell : Our community care proposals stress that frail and vulnerable people are entitled to a good quality of residential care and nursing home care. This includes the right to privacy and dignity. We aim to help ensure that this is achieved by the introduction in six weeks' time of inspection units which will monitor standards in both public and independent sector residential care homes, by the introduction of a new complaints system, and by the provision of a 25 per cent. increase in the training support grant for 1991-92. Community care purchaser contracts will further reinforce the requirement that good quality services are provided.
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Kirklees Metropolitan Council
Mrs. Peacock : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the standard spending assessment for social services for Kirklees metropolitan council for 1991-92 ; and what it was for 1990-91.
Mr. Dorrell : The information requested is as follows :
|£ million
------------------------------------
1990-91 |28.1
1991-92 |34.2
Neonatal Care
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list for each region and for England as a whole the number of (a) special and intensive care cots, (b) special and/or intensive care cots closed during 1990-91 for financial reasons, (c) vacancies for fully-trained neonatal nurses, (d) training places for neonatal nurses available in each year from 1987 and (e) training places for neonatal nurses filled in each year from 1987.
Mr. Dorrell : The information requested at parts (b) to (e) is not collected centrally. The latest information on the daily average numbers of neonatal cots which are not in a maternity unit is set out in the table. It should be noted, however, that some health authorities also provide intensive care facilities within maternity units.
Special and neonatal intensive care cots by regional health authority
England, 1988-89 to 1989-90
|1988-89 |<1>1989-90
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Regional health authority
Northern |260 |262
Yorkshire |282 |280
Trent |310 |302
East Anglian |135 |132
North West Thames |269 |249
North East Thames |291 |291
South East Thames |282 |278
South West Thames |188 |189
Wessex |182 |183
Oxford |193 |183
South Western |166 |168
West Midlands |402 |387
Mersey |175 |172
North Western |332 |334
Special health authority
Hammersmith and Queen Charlotte's |46 |41
|------- |-------
England |3,513 |3,451
<1> Provisional.
Source: KH03 return (neonate cots not on maternity units).
NHS Negligence
Ms. Harman : To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he will outline his plans for introducing an arbitration procedure for cases in which negligence must be proven ; and if he will make a statement further to his remarks during the debate on second reading of the Health Service (Compensation) Bill.
Mr. Waldegrave : On 1 February I announced that I would be prepared to undertake consultations on whether an arbitration procedure could be established within the national health service which may provide quicker, cheaper and simpler avenues for the informal resolution of disputes. I shall bring forward proposals in due course.
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Salmonella
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will circulate a copy of his reply to the hon. Member for Cardiff, West on 22 January, Official Report , column 162 , on anti-salmonella guidelines to all national health service district managers.
Correspondence
Sir Michael McNair-Wilson : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the average time his Department takes to answer letters from hon. and right hon. Members.
Mr. Dorrell : Twenty-nine days for the 7,600 letters dealt with in the last six months.
Cyclosporin and AZT
Sir Michael McNair-Wilson : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what sums of money have been provided by his Department towards funding Cyclosporin and AZT.
Mr. Dorrell : The costs of providing Cyclosporin and AZT within the health service are not available centrally. It is for health authorities to identify needs for the drugs and make suitable provision.
Funds for treating AIDS patients are allocated to regions on the basis of the number of live AIDS cases within the region and the cost of AZT is met from those allocations. Unlike transplants, the treatment of AIDS has been concentrated in certain regions.
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