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Written Answers to Questions
Friday 22 February 1991
EDUCATION AND SCIENCE
Schools (Minor Works)
Mr. Peter Walker : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many bids for minor works were made by aided schools in the Hereford and Worcester county council area for the year 1991-92 ; and how many have been approved.
Mr. Fallon : In its capital expenditure plans for 1991-92, Hereford and Worcester county council bid for 11 minor works projects at aided schools. None were approved. For work at county and controlled schools and colleges, the council received a total annual capital guideline of £6.8 million.
Schools (Capital Expenditure)
Mr. Peter Walker : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he plans to increase the level of grants agreed for capital expenditure at aided schools.
Mr. Fallon : Capital grants to aided schools have almost doubled in real terms since 1978-79. The following table shows the level of grant available for capital expenditure, excluding repairs, in cash terms for the last five years.
|£ million
------------------------------
1987-88 |31.6
1988-89 |43.5
1989-90 |57.5
1990-91 |71.0
1991-92 |84.2
My right hon. and learned Friend hopes to continue increasing the level of funds available for capital expenditure at aided schools subject to the constraints of overall policy on public expenditure.
Data Protection
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when his Department first considered whether schools might have to register under the Data Protection Act ; when he expects to issue guidance to school governors about the Data Protection Act ; and whether he will make a statement.
Mr. Fallon : The implications of the Data Protection Act for schools have been kept under review since the Act first came into force. The possible need for schools to register on their own account was first considered in 1989 in the light of increasing use of computer systems in schools involving personal data. Following discussion with the Data Protection Act Registrar and the local authority associations draft guidance was issued for consultation in October 1990 and guidance will be issued to schools when the consideration of comments received has been completed.
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Major Works
Mr. Peter Walker : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what were the bids made by educational authorities for major works for 1991-92 ; and what proportion of these bids has been agreed.
Mr. Fallon : Local authorities submitted 521 bids for new major projects in voluntary aided and special agreement schools to start in 1991- 92, which would require grant aid of £54 million. Of these, 67 were placed on the starts list and 31 on the design list, involving a grant of £12.5 million in 1991-92, or 23 per cent. of the grant bid for. A further 93 bids were made for projects which require statutory proposals. Additional funds will be allocated as necessary for any such project for which associated statutory proposals are approved in the course of the year.
Secondary School Education
Mr. Norris : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the cost of educating a secondary school pupil in Hillingdon and in each contiguous local education authority.
Mr. Fallon : In 1988-89, the latest year for which information is available, expenditure per secondary pupil derived from information supplied by authorities was as follows :
Authority |£ ------------------------------------ Hillingdon |1,870 Buckinghamshire |1,715 Ealing |2,145 Harrow |1,740 Hertfordshire |1,740 Hounslow |1,895 Surrey |1,635
University of Wales
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what were the total numbers of (a) males and (b) females in 1989-90 within the university of Wales studying (i) languages (ii) social sciences,(iii) multi-disciplinary studies, (iv) medicine and dentistry, (v) biological sciences, (vi) humanities, (vii) physical sciences, (viii) studies allied to medicine, (ix) mathematical sciences, (x) business and financial studies, (xi) engineering and technology, (xii) veterinary sciences, agricultural and related, (xiii) creative arts, (xiv) education and(xv) architecture, librarianship and information science.
Mr. Alan Howarth : Information for 1989-90 will be published by the Universities' Student Record in University Statistics Volume I--Students and Staff' on24 February 1991, a copy of which will be placed in the House of Commons Library.
HOME DEPARTMENT
Female Circumcision
Mrs. Roe : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions for illegal female circumcision have taken place in the United Kingdom since 1985 ; and if he will make a statement.
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Mr. Kenneth Baker : Records available centrally show no prosecutions in the United Kingdom between 1985 and 1989 under the Prohibition of Female Circumcision Act 1985.Jet Skis
Mr. Higgins : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what enabling powers are available to him as the confirming authority for local authority byelaws relating to jet skis, as outlined in his answer of 25 October 1990, Official Report, column 262.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : The Secretary of State for the Home Department is the confirming authority for byelaws made under the following provisions which permit the regulation of jet skis :
Section 76 of the Public Health Act 1961 for the regulation of seaside pleasure boats.
Section 90 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949, for the regulation of the use of waterways in National Parks, areas of outstanding natural beauty and areas where an access agreement has been made.
Sections 13 and 41 of the Countryside Act 1968, for the regulation of the use of lakes in National Parks and waterways in country parks.
Provisions under certain Local Acts.
Section 235 of the Local Government Act 1972, which permits regulation and suppression of nuisances by district and borough councils where no other powers are available.
Public Order Act
Miss Emma Nicholson : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether he intends to publish full results of his Department's review of section 39 of the Public Order Act 1986 in due course ;
(2) if he will make a statement on any interim conclusions reached from his Department's review of section 39 of the Public Order Act 1986.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : We propose to announce shortly the substantive conclusions of our evaluation of section 39 of the Public Order Act 1986.
Travellers
Miss Emma Nicholson : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from farmers concerning the swiftness and effectiveness of their legal sanctions against travellers trespassing on their land.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : We received two representations from farmers' organisations in response to the publicly announced evaluation of section 39 of the Public Order Act 1986, which deals with aggravated trespass on land. Simple trespass is a matter for my noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor.
Firearms
Mr. Wiggin : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many chief constables are demanding that every applicant for the grant or renewal of a shotgun certificate provides proof of a good reason for requiring such a shotgun ; whether this is required by law and whether he will issue further guidance to chief police officers to clarify the matter and confine such a practice to firearms.
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Mr. Peter Lloyd : The administration of the Firearms Acts 1968 to 1988 is a matter for individual chief officers of police who are empowered under section 28 (1A) of the Firearms Act 1968 as amended by section 3 of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1988 to refuse the issue or renewal of a shotgun certificate if they are satisfied that an applicant does not have a good reason for purchasing, acquiring or possessing a shotgun.
Information about the practical operation of firearm controls within each force area in England and Wales is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Practical guidance on the proper and efficient administration of firearms controls has been issued to the police service in the document "Firearms Law : Guidance to the Police", a copy of which was placed in the Library on publication in 1989. At our request the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) has written to chief officers drawing their attention to the guidance given on this matter to help ensure consistency of practice between police forces.
Data Protection
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he has taken to encourage the European Commission to adopt adequate standards of data protection ; and whether he has any plans to propose the establishment of a Commissioner for data protection for Europe.
Mrs. Rumbold : We support any move by the Commission to ensure that all Community states ratify the European convention on data protection and introduce national implementing legislation. We have no plans to propose the establishment of a European data protection Commissioner.
Greater London Council
Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his estimate of staff numbers in his Department involved in full or part-time work arising from responsibilities transferred from the Greater London council.
Mr. Kenneth Baker [holding answer 19 February 1991] : None.
Annual Report Costs
Mr. Vaz : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much the Home Office annual report 1991 cost to produce and distribute.
Mr. Kenneth Baker [pursuant to his reply of 14 February 1991, column 549] : Costs of £32,500 for design and artwork were borne bythe Home Office.
ENERGY
Combined Heat and Power
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he expects the combined heat and power schemes database being compiled by the Office of Electricity Regulation to be completed ; and if he will make a statement.
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Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : Work is continuing on gathering information for the combined heat and power schemes database, and it is expected that it will begin to come on line during the second half of this year. That part of the database which is not commercially in confidence will be available to members of the public and to interested parties.Energy Efficiency Grant
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he has any plans to expand the energy efficiency grant aid scheme for low- income households.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : The home energy efficiency scheme was introduced on 1 January 1991 and early indications are that it has been well received. My Department will monitor its progress carefully, but it would be premature to take decisions on possible expansion of the scheme.
Expenditure
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what percentage of total United Kingdom energy expenditure was accounted for by (a) transport, (b) buildings and (c) other industries in (i) 1989 and (ii) 1990.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : It is estimated that, in 1989, 44 per cent. of total United Kingdom energy expenditure, inclusive of taxes, was accounted for by transport ; 42 per cent. was spent on heating buildings and 13 per cent. was accounted for by industry for purposes other than the heating of buildings and for transport. Data for 1990 are not yet available.
Data derived from table 9 of the "Digest of United Kingdom Energy Statistics 1990" and building research establishment publications.
Housing
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether he has any plans to ensure that United Kingdom housing stock achieves a higher rating on the national home energy rating ; what targets he has set for developing energy efficiency in the housing stock up to the year 2000 ; and whether he has made any estimate of the effect of energy efficiency in housing stock on (a) the potential savings on energy expenditure and (b) emissions of carbon dioxide.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : The Government promote energy efficiency in housing through information programmes, such as the EEO best practice programme and its current publicity campaign targeted on those moving or improving their homes, including promotion of home energy labelling ; through thermal requirements in building regulations ; and through financial support targeted on those on low incomes, including the new home energy efficiency scheme, house renovation grants, the local government housing demonstration programme and estates action. Whilst targets are set for individual programmes as appropriate, no targets have been set for the housing stock as a whole, where the rate of improvement in energy efficiency depends upon the decisions and choices of individual householders in the light of their own particular circumstances.
Assessments of the prospects for achieving reductions in energy expenditure and carbon dioxide emissions in the
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domestic sector are contained in the paper submitted by the United Kingdom to the energy and industry sub-group of the response strategies working group of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in November 1989, and subsequently published in January 1990 as energy paper No. 58 under the title "An Evaluation of Energy Related Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Measures to Ameliorate Them".Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether his Department has any plans to use the national homes energy rating as a means of setting performance targets both for new build and for the improvement of existing homes.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : My Department considers that home energy labelling is an important means whereby individual householders and those responsible for building and managing housing stock can become better informed about the scope for improving the energy efficiency performance of their dwellings. I therefore welcome the initiatives taken by the National Energy Foundation and MVM-Starpoint to launch home energy labelling schemes based on the building research establishment's domestic energy model (BREDEM).
My Department and the Department of the Environment are working with both organisations to help promote the concept of home energy labelling more widely. As explained in the Government's White Paper "This Common Inheritance", our intention is that energy labelling should be sufficiently developed to be incorporated into the building regulations when they are next amended. We are also examining what part home energy labelling can play to achieve energy efficiency improvements in the existing housing stock.
Electricity Prices
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what consultations he proposes to hold with the Director General of the Office of Electricity Regulation concerning the application of the clawback provision in 1991-92 arising from under-provision for inflation in 1990-91 to the price increases permitted to the electricity distribution companies to run from 1 April.
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he next expects to meet the Director General of OFFER to discuss the formula for prospective increases in the price of electricity for domestic consumers.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : My right hon. Friend meets the Director General of Electricity Supply from time to time to discuss a range of electricity matters. It will be for the director general, when he has fully considered the proposals by regional electricity companies for their 1991- 92 tariff proposals, to satisfy himself that any changes are consistent with the price controls in their licences.
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what proposals he has to strengthen the protection of tariff electricity consumers against price rises greater than the rate of retail prices index inflation in respect of the financial year starting on 1 April ;
(2) if he will revise the basis on which the month is chosen for the calculation of retail prices index inflation to
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trigger the clawback provision for domestic electricity prices in the year subsequent to the year for which RPI inflation has been under-estimated.Mr Heathcoat-Amory : Modifications to any of the conditions in the public electricity supply licences issued to the regional electricity companies are a matter for the Director General of Electricity Supply in accordance with the procedures set out in the Electricity Act 1989 and in the licences.
ENVIRONMENT
Green Belts
Mr. Brando-Bravo : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a further statement on his policy regarding the revision of existing green-belt areas.
Sir George Young : Planning policy guidance note No. 2 sets out the Government's policy on green belts. Once the extent of a green belt has been established it should be altered only in exceptional circumstances.
Mr. Brandon-Bravo : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a further statement on his policy towards green -belt development proposals which are supported by local planning authorities.
Sir George Young : Paragraph 13 of planning policy guidance note No. 2 lists the limited types of development which may be appropriate in the green belt. Very special circumstances are needed to justify other types of development. Local planning authorities should inform the Secretary of State if they are minded to approve proposals that materially depart from the provisions of an approved development plan. The Secretary of State may decide to call in proposals for his own determination if planning issues of more than local importance are involved.
Surplus Land
Mr. French : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the success of his policies in encouraging public sector bodies to sell their surplus land.
Mr. Yeo : There is some evidence that, in general--against the background of the encouragement, incentives and penalties provided--public sector bodies have in recent years been taking steps to improve their property management. However, there is still too much unused and underused land and, in the light of the responses to last year's consultation paper, we are considering what further action should be taken to improve the position.
Community Charge
Mr. Channon : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he proposes to issue a further circular to charging authorities clarifying the statutory extent of their discretion in seeking the payment of community charge by military personnel serving in the Gulf ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Heseltine : I refer my right hon. Friend to my statement to the House on Tuesday 19 February, in which
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I announced that it was the Government's intention that no service personnel or associated civilians posted to the Gulf should have to pay the community charge for the duration of their posting. When the judgment in the Anderton case is received, we shall be considering ways of ensuring that this objective can be achieved and I shall present details to the House as soon as I can.Mr. David Shaw : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the cost per chargepayer of collecting the community charge in respect of each collecting council in Kent.
Mr. Key : The information requested is as follows :
Community charge collection costs per
head of relevant population
|Budget
|estimates
|1990-91
|£
------------------------------------------
Ashford |9.64
Canterbury |10.48
Dartford |10.77
Dover |10.61
Gillingham |7.66
Gravesham |9.44
Maidstone |9.20
Rochester on Medway |7.10
Sevenoaks |6.44
Shepway |14.92
Swale |9.64
Thanet |10.62
Tonbridge and Malling |9.67
Tunbridge Wells |6.95
Fire Regulations
Mr. Ken Hargreaves : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans there are to ensure that the building regulations in respect of fire, when modified, for England and Wales will be consistent with those related to Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Mr. Yeo : When decisions are taken on the proposals for amendments to part B of the Building Regulations 1985 relating to safety in fire, and to the related practical guidance, the desirability of greater technical consistency between the Building Regulations for England and Wales, and those for Scotland and Northern Ireland, will be an important consideration. At the same time, full weight will also be given to the undertaking in the White Paper "Lifting the Burden" that the Government will examine carefully the possibilities of reducing the level of regulation in this area, where this would not lead to increased risk to personal safety.
Property Services Agency
Mr. Campbell-Savours : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects the Property Services Agency to be placed on a commercial accounting basis.
Mr. Yeo : I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply that I gave to his question on 14 February 1991 at column 538.
Mr. Campbell-Savours : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps have been taken to ensure that Property Services Agency divisions other than TCS have all complied with all EC/GATT regulations relating to the actions of the Property Services Agency.
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Mr. Yeo : As part of preparations for operation as the agent of other Government Departments requiring work services, all PSA services divisions have been reminded of the EC/GATT rules.Mr. Campbell-Savours : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what arrangements are being made for the valuation of the Property Services Agency and its assets prior to privatisation.
Mr. Yeo : Financial advisers, appointed in connection with the privatisation of the Property Services Agency, will value the business and its assets prior to privatisation.
Mr. Campbell-Savours : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guarantees or conditions he is applying to the contract for sale of the divisions of the Property Services Agency to ensure that terms of conditions of service that currently apply to civil servants in that department are retained.
Mr. Yeo : All employees' terms and conditions of service are protected by law against unilateral changes. The contract for sale is likely to refer to redundancy and pension terms, because those arrangements are subject to technical changes. Negotiations are taking place with the relevant trade unions about those changes.
Drinking Water Inspectorate
Mr. Gareth Wardell : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the number of officials in his Department employed in the drinking water inspectorate ; and if he will arrange for the results of the inspectorate's monitoring to be placed in the Library.
Mr. Baldry : The full complement of the drinking water inspectorate is 26 posts of which 20 are filled, including one by a secondee from the Water Research Centre. Recruitment of the remaining staff for the Inspectorate is currently in progress.
The chief inspector's report for the calendar year 1990 is due to be published in the summer. Copies will be placed in the Library of both Houses.
Sleeping Rough
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will provide a borough-by-borough breakdown of his Department's estimate of about 2,000 to 3,000 people sleeping rough in central London, referred to by the Minister for Housing and Planning in an oral answer on 30 January 1991 at column 926 ;
(2) on what date the estimate of people sleeping rough in central London referred to in his oral answer of 30 January 1991 Official Report, column 926, was arrived at ; and who was involved in making the estimate ;
(3) what differences there are between the areas covered by the estimate for people sleeping rough given by the Minister for Housing and Planning in an oral answer on 30 January 1991, Official Report, column 926, and those covered by the oral answer by the Under-Secretary of State on 8 February 1991, Official Report, column 543.
Sir George Young : The estimate given in the oral answer on 30 January related to the whole of London and was based on discussions that my Department had during 1990 with voluntary organisations working in the field, in the light of the findings of the Salvation Army survey in
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April 1989 of rough sleepers in 17 London boroughs. This estimate was not broken down on a borough by borough basis. The figure quoted by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State on 8 February reflects an estimate made by voluntary organisations in seven locations in central London at the end of January 1991.Mr. Soley : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he intends to ensure funding is available to continue the facilities made available recently to the homeless during the recent cold weather ; and if he will make a statement.
Sir George Young [holding answer, 21 February 1991] : Yes. We have offered funding to the voluntary bodies and local authorities who provided emergency shelters for rough sleepers in London during the very cold weather to enable them to remain open for longer ; 470 places are available at present and we are pursuing the possibility of further short- term emergency shelters. These are additional to the 2,000 direct access hostel places permanently provided in London.
Leeds Development Corporation
Mr. Fatchett : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has made any assessment of the impact on employment of the work of the Leeds development corporation.
Mr. Key : Between June 1988 and March 1990, 5,241 permanent jobs were created in Leeds Development Corporation's area with a further 885 expected in the year to 31 March 1991. This is a significant contribution towards employment opportunities in Leeds.
Mr. Fatchett : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total funding for each financial year of the Leeds development corporation.
Mr. Key : The amount of grant in aid provided to Leeds development corporation was £2.743 million in 1988-89 and £8.75 million in 1989-90 ; £14 million is available in 1990-91 and £12 million in 1991-92.
Mr. Fatchett : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the record of the Leeds development corporation.
Mr. Key : Since designation in June 1988, Leeds development corporation has made excellent progress in stimulating the regeneration of its area. By the end of this financial year more than 1.5 million square feet of industrial and commercial floor space will have been completed or be in the course of construction, creating over 1,700 construction and 6,100 permanent jobs. Further planning permissions have been granted for developments totalling 2.5 million square feet.
The corporation has published planning frameworks for eight of its fourteen sub-areas. The remaining six will be available by June. Major road improvement works have been completed to open up the proposed new 50 acre Hunslet business park which will provide accommodation for new businesses and allow existing firms to expand. Developers have been selected for three major joint development competitions with Leeds city council, British Waterways and British Gas for key inner city sites. The proposed developments include housing, community, leisure, industrial and commercial uses. The corporation
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places a high priority on minimising disruption to existing businesses and assisting with relocation. Two major relocation sites totalling 32 hectares have been acquired are being serviced. Assistance to businesses is being provided under various grant schemes. Six city grants, five sites and property grants and twenty environmental improvement grants have been offered. The corporation's community sponsorship grant scheme is also proving popular with nineteen grants having been taken up.In the Calls conservation area, sensitive new developments and pedestrian thoroughfares are linking the city centre with the riverside, where new developments are taking place alongside existing buildings for which new uses are being found. The corporation is working closely with Leeds city council, British Waterways and the Leeds-Bradford city action team to enhance the potential of the River Aire and the Leeds-Liverpool canal. At these and other gateway sites, 28 environmental improvement schemes involving nearly 100,000 sq m of planting/landscaping, stonecleaning of walls and bridges, repairs and re-paving works have been implemented.
Leeds development corporation is to be congratulated on its achievements to date and the efforts it is making to ensure progress is maintained.
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