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Soviet Union
Mr. John Marshall : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made in respect of Anatoly Brenner of Moscow who has been unsuccessfully applying to leave the Soviet Union.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : Mr. Brenner's case is included on the list of those on which we make regular representations to the Soviet authorities. We shall not let up until there is a satisfactory outcome.
Mr. John Marshall : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made in respect of (1) Mikhail Boyko of Minsk who has been unsuccessfully applying to leave the Soviet Union ;
(2) Iosif Davido of Kiev who has been unsuccessfully applying to leave the Soviet Union ;
(3) Philip Bogod of Leningrad who has been unsuccessfully applying to leave the Soviet Union.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : These cases have now been added to the list of those on which we make regular representations to the Soviet authorities. We shall not let up until there is a satisfactory outcome.
Iraq (Nuclear Weapons)
Mr. Cryer : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government have made any assessment of Iraqi violations of its non-proliferation treaty commitments.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : There was clear evidence that, before the outbreak of hostilities, Iraq was trying to develop a nuclear capability in breach of its undertaking not to manufacture or otherwise acquire nuclear weapons and not to seek any assistance whatsoever to do so.
Saddam Hussein
Mr. Cryer : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Govan (Mr. Sillars), Official Report, 30 January, columns 527-28, he will set out the purpose and outcome of the meeting between the then Minister of State, the right hon. and learned Member for Putney (Mr. Mellor), and President Saddam Hussein on 24 November 1988, to which he refers.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : My right hon. Friend met the Iraqi president on 24 February 1988 to discuss regional and bilateral issues, and to deliver a message from the Prime Minister about British prisoners in Iraq. The president agreed to the release of Mr. John Smith, then in prison in Baghdad.
Arms Sales
Mr. Cryer : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his oral answer to the hon. Member for Walsall, North (Mr. Winnick), Official Report, 16 January, column 836, how he plans to discuss the problem of arms sales to possible aggressor nations, to which he makes reference.
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Mr. Lennox-Boyd : We are already considering the problem ourselves and with our partners in the Community and in other international fora. The subject of arms sales will remain high on the international agenda.Iraq
Mrs. Clwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Islington, North (Mr. Corbyn) of 18 February, Official Report, column 54, from which vote head the £3 million of aid and earlier £11 million pledge to the United Nations disaster relief co-ordinator and the International Committee of the Red Cross will be paid, and in which financial year ; what contribution Her Majesty's Government have made to UNICEF and the World Health Organisation for medical supplies for Baghdad ; and whether the report of the UNICEF mission currently in Baghdad will be classified as an independent assessment on which the sanctions committee can make a decision regarding food supplies.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : The United Kingdom made prompt pledges of financial support following appeals from the international aid agencies in the context of the Gulf crisis. All these pledges have been paid.
Following Iraq's invasion of Kuwait on 2 August 1990, the United Kingdom gave some £11 million in humanitarian assistance for refugees and displaced persons from Iraq and Kuwait. A total of £2.72 million in bilateral assistance was paid from class II, vote 5, Foreign and Commonwealth Office--Overseas Development Administration : overseas aid. A total of £8.1 million in assistance was paid through the European Community.
Mr. Cryer : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Newham, North-West (Mr. Banks), Official Report, 31 January, column 606, on ministerial visits to Iraq since 1979, if he will set out the date and purpose of each visit.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : My noble Friend the then Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Lord Carrington, visited Iraq on 3 to 4 July 1979. As Minister of State, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs visited Iraq on 16 to 18 July 1980, 16 to 17 July 1981 and 27 March 1983. My right hon. Friend the Member for Shoreham (Sir R. Luce), the then Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, visited Iraq on 20 to 22 November 1984. My right
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hon. and learned Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, the then Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, visited Iraq on 23 to 25 February 1988. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health, the then Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, visited Iraq on 12 February 1989.These ministerial visits were undertaken as part of the normal conduct of Anglo-Iraqi bilateral relations.
Nuclear Facilities, Iraq
Mr. Cryer : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what considerations were given to the 1977 protocol 1 to the Geneva conventions of 1949 before allied forces bombed Iraqi nuclear facilities.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : Due consideration was given to all relevant rules of international law, including those reflected in protocol 1 of 1977 additional to the Geneva conventions, which is not however applicable to the conflict in the Gulf.
Mr. Cryer : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effect of the allied bombing of Iraq's nuclear facilities upon the long-term stability and effectiveness of the 1975 nuclear non-proliferation treaty.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : There is no reason why the matter referred to by the hon. Member should have any adverse effect on the NPT.
Mr. Cryer : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has had any communication with the secretary general of the International Atomic Energy Agency following the allied bombing and destruction of the Iraq nuclear facility at Tuwaitha.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : We have had no such communications, but our officials maintain regular contact with Dr. Blix and his staff.
Nuclear Test Ban
Mr. Cryer : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the partial test ban treaty amendment conference held in New York in January.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : I refer the hon. Member to my reply of 27 February, Vol. 186, column 497-98.
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The Gulf
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what action is being taken by the allied forces to protect the civilian population of Iraq from the effects of oil conflagration ;
(2) what action is being taken by the allied forces to protect the Kurdish people from the effects of oil conflagration.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : We have no information indicating a serious threat to the Kurdish people from the effects of oil conflagration. The environmental damage caused by the fires started at Kuwait's oil wells is wholly to be laid at the door of Saddam Hussein.
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consultations he, Ministers or officials of his Department had with academic specialists on the middle east region since 16 January on formation of policy towards restoring security in the Gulf following the end of hostilities.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is in regular contact with academics on a wide range of subjects involving the middle east in the course of its normal business.
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has had any consultations with his American counterparts, or officials at the United States State Department concerning the occupation of Basra by allied military and civilian personnel following the end of hostilities in the Gulf war.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : Our objectives do not include the occupation of Iraqi territory. Coalition forces present in Iraq at the cessation of hostilities will, as has been stated on repeated occasions, be brought home.
Israel
Mr. Marlow : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 25 February, what are the territorial limits within which it is a matter for the Israeli Government as to where patriot missile launchers may be deployed.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : Israel is obliged under the fourth Geneva convention to provide the same degree of protection for the inhabitants of the occupied territories as she does for her own citizens. It follows that the Israeli Government have the right to deploy Patriot missile launchers in Israel and in the occupied territories.
Crimes Against Humanity
Mr. Winnick : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will obtain for his Department's library a copy of the article in The Times of 25 February written by John and Ann Tusa on the steps which could be taken to establish machinery for those held responsible for crimes against humanity to be brought to justice ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : We have consistently stated that individuals bear personal responsibility for crimes under international law. This position is reflected in Security Council resolution 674.
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Mr. Winnick : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consultations are taking place amongst the allies and at the United Nations for machinery to be established for those held responsible for crimes against humanity to be brought to justice.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to the right hon. and learned Member for Warley, West (Mr. Archer) on 13 February, Vol. 185, column 514-15.
Western European Union
Mr. Ian Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the role of the Western European Union in relation to the future of European security arrangements.
Mr. Hurd : I attended together with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence a ministerial meeting of the Western European Union to discuss this subject in Paris on 22 February. We issued a working paper, copies of which are being placed in the Library of the House.
The paper records agreement among WEU members on the continuing importance of NATO as the framework for the collective defence of all allies, and on the need to strengthen the WEU as the European pillar within the alliance, linked to the process of political union. Differences remain on other issues. I made it plain that there was no case for the Twelve taking on a defence role, or for placing the WEU under the European Council. In order to be effective, the WEU should be moved to Brussels, and flexible arrangements should be made to associate all European allies who wish to do so with its work.
ENVIRONMENT
Green Issues
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment who in his Department has been appointed to oversee and develop green issues ; how many civil servants have been allocated new or additional responsibilities to deal with the management and development of green issues ; and what additional allocation of resources has been made to support programmes related to green issues in his Department.
Mr. Heseltine : I have overall responsibility for all environmental matters within my Department. Two divisions have been specifically established to develop environmental issues following the publication of the Environment White Paper, "This Common Inheritance" in September 1990-- environmental protection central division and environmental protection and industry division. These have 27 staff. The Department's existing environmental protection group, directorate of rural affairs and heritage division have a combined complement of 740.5 including a significant strengthening in the complement of Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution to meet the needs of the new system of integrated pollution control. Environmental issues also form a growing part of the work of all parts of the Department. My hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment and Countryside announced last November my Department's
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plans to spend an extra £130 million in 1991-92 to protect and improve the environment. Included in this sum is an extra £13.7 million for environmental research, £23 million for the National Rivers Authority and £27 million to help local authorities improve waste disposal and recycling facilities. The extra spending also implements a number of White Paper commitments, including the creation of a new fund for repairs to cathedrals and the environmental grant fund for voluntary groups.Local Government Finance
Sir Richard Luce : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in his review of the financing of local government, he will make it his policy to reassess the criteria for the standard spending assessment so as to reduce the disparity in per capita support for the Adur district as against its neighbouring district.
Mr. Portillo : Standard spending assessments are calculated in the same way for all authorities according to the formulae set out in the revenue support grant distribution report approved by the House of Commons. These formulae followed extensive analysis and research which was fully discussed with the local authority associations. We are always willing to consider any new evidence with a view to making changes to SSAs in future should that prove necessary.
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what grant per poll tax payer is received by (a) Nottingham and (b) Westminster.
Mr. Key : Government grants in 1990-91 consist of revenue support grant, special grants, specific grants in aggregate Exchequer finance, community charge benefit grant and transitional relief grant. Government grants per head of relevant population were £358 in Nottingham and £980 in Westminster.
Mr. Nellist : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will update the information on numbers of people and percentages of liable adults paying the poll tax, by county, provided in his answer to the hon. Member for Coventry, South-East of 26 November 1991, Official Report, column 259, to give the information as of 31 December.
Mr. Key : I am arranging for the information to be placed in the Library of the House.
Mr. Gould : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Dagenham of 8 February, Official Report, column 263, if he will publish a table showing in rank order the estimated percentage rise in average business rate bills, by local authority, between 1990-91 and 1991-92 taking account of transitional arrangements.
Mr. Heseltine [holding answer 22 February 1991] : I have today placed in the Library a table showing for each local authority the estimated percentage rise in average non-domestic rate bills in cash terms between 1990-91 and 1991-92. These estimates are based on the local rating list on 1 April 1990 and do not take account of subsequent changes in rateable value or of additions to or deletions from the list.
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Planning Policy
Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many responses he has received to the review on planning policy guidelines "The Countryside and the Rural Economy". Mr. Yeo : My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has received 386 responses and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales 41. The final version of the revised planning policy guidance note 7 "The Countryside and the Rural Economy" is likely to be issued in the summer.
Housing Associations
Ms. Abbott : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action the Housing Corporation takes to ensure that housing associations pursue equal opportunities policies in relation to employment, housing allocation and awarding contracts to architects and contractors.
Mr. Yeo : The Housing Corporation has a specific statutory duty under section 71 of the Race Relations Act 1976, as amended, to have regard, in the exercise of all its functions, to the need to eliminate unlawful racial discrimination and to promote equality of opportunity and good relations between persons of different racial groups. I have asked the Housing Corporation to write to the hon. Member with information about the action it pursues both in this field and in other areas of equal opportunities policy.
Ms. Abbott : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the policy of the housing corporations towards black housing associations ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Yeo : The Housing Corporation has recently issued a consultative document, reviewing its policy towards black and minority ethnic housing associations. I have asked the Housing Corporation to write to the hon. Member setting out the principles of its past and future policy.
Hostels
Mr. Soley : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) when the hostels announced by the then Minister for Housing, the hon. Member for Worcestershire, South (Mr. Spicer), on 18 October 1990 and in his reply to the hon. Member for Harrow, West (Mr. Hughes), on 18 December 1990, Official Report, column 119, will open ; (2) how much money has been provided in (a) revenue funding and (b) capital for each of the hostels announced by the then Minister for Housing on 18 October 1990 and for the hostels he announced in his reply to the hon. Member for Harrow, West (Mr. Hughes) on 18 December 1990, Official Report, column 119.
Sir George Young : The information requested concerning all the hostel schemes approved to date, including those announced on 18 October and 18 December, is given in the table.
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|Scheme location |Number |Expected opening date |Approved |Approved
|and borough |of spaces |capital |annual
Housing association/ |costs |revenue costs
voluntary agency |£ |£
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
St. Mungo Association |32 Nevern Square, SW5
| (Kensington) |20 |24 December 1990<1> |65,075 |225,368
St. Mungo Association |29/30 Bassett Road, W10 |22 |24 December 1990<1> (part)
| (Kensington) |2 January 1991<1> (remainder) |77,380 |230,478
Providence Row HA |50 Crispin Street, E1
| (Tower Hamlets) |8 |10 January 1991<1> |28,468 |23,278
Look Ahead HA |Princess Beatrice House, SW10
| (Kensington) |4 |12 February 1991<1> |16,496 |Nil
St. Mungo Association |City Road, EC1 (Islington) | 45 |25 February 1991<1> (part)
|early March 1991<1> (remainder)|304,820 |212,269
Church HA |Station Hotel, N1
| (Islington) |35 |March 1991 |273,428 |90,340
Church HA |King George's Hostel, SW1
| (Westminster) |100 |March 1991 |220,095 |154,620
Church HA |165 Chevening Road, NW6
| (Brent) |6 |March 1991 |64,298 |10,561
St. Mungo Association |Woodberry Down, N15
| (Haringey) |19 |March/April 1991 |219,578 |144,918
Church HA |St. Mark's Rectory, NW1
| (Westminster) |13 |April 1991 |115,973 |78,203
Providence Row HA |47/49 Crispin Street, E1
| (Tower Hamlets) |16 |April 1991 |149,940 |172,420
Threshold HA/Centrepoint Soho |Vauxhall Hostel, SW8 | 60
| (Lambeth) |May 1991 (remainder) |925,985 |627,840
Shaftesbury Society |Lansdowne Mission, SE1
| (Southwark) |23 |June 1991 |131,300 |44,884
Shaftesbury Society |Sir John Kirk Mission, SE5
| (Southwark) |23 |June 1991 |158,165 |39,997
Shaftesbury Society |4 Aldershot Road, NW6
| (Brent) |9 |June 1991<2> |168,244 |27,718
Notting Hill HT/De Paul Trust |2 Moorland Road, W2
| (Westminster) |16 |June 1991 |152,507 |88,611
St. Mungo Association |53 Chichester Road, NW6
| (Brent) | 17 |September/October 1991 |405,504 |70,502
Church HA |Belgrave Hospital, SW9 |150
|(Lambeth) |-applied for October 1990 |2,140,625 |221,773
<1>Actual opening date.
<2>Subject to planning consent.
Vacant Properties
Mr. Soley : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is the estimate of the number of empty residential properties in the private sector ; and what is the estimate of the percentage this represents of the total number of residential properties in the private sector ;
(2) what is the estimate of the number of properties which are empty in each of (a) local authority housing, (b) housing association housing and (c) Government Department housing ; and what is the estimate of the percentage this represents of the total number of properties in each such group.
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Sir George Young : The available information for April 1990 is in the table. Figures are for England, except in the case of Government Departments, which are for Great Britain.
Derived from housing association returns to the Housing Corporation for March 1990. Includes 12,700 dwellings, mainly
|Vacant dwellings|As a percentage
|(thousands) |of stock
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Local authority<1> |99.2 |2.5
Housing association<2> |19.7 |3.5
Other Public Sector<3> |31.1 |16.4
Private<4> |586.8 |4.0
<1> Derived from local authorities housing investment programme returns
for April 1990. Includes 38,900 dwellings which are awaiting or
undergoing major works or awaiting sale or demolition.
<2> Derived from housing association returns to the Housing Corporation
for March 1990. Includes 12,700 dwellings, mainly purchased from the
private sector, which require rehabilitation work before suitable for
occupation.
<3> 1989-90 figures reported by Government Departments to the Treasury
and includes dwellings owned by local health authorities. Many are vacant
because of operational requirements, notably those owned by the Ministry
of Defence. The Government are encouraging the sale of housing which is
surplus to requirements and many of those that are vacant are in the
process of disposal.
<4> Includes both rented and owner occupied dwellings. Local authorities
provide figures in their housing investment programme returns, but
because of the difficulty of obtaining up-to-date information on private
sector vacancies, the estimates are likely to be less reliable than other
information provided.
Twynham Housing Association
Mr. Soley : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has received concerning the transfer of housing stock to the Twynham housing association ; and what response he has made.
Sir George Young : Christchurch borough council has applied for consent to dispose of its housing stock to Twynham housing association. The application is currently under consideration and a decision will be announced as soon as possible.
Rent Arrears
Mr. Dunn : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what the latest figures are on the arrears of rent outstanding to each local authority in Kent ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr Yeo : I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by My hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Planning on 21 February, Official Report, column 209-10, to my hon. Friend the Member for Hendon, South (Mr. Marshall).
Integrated Pollution Control
Mr. Andy Stewart : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will publish general guidance on the implementation and operation of integrated pollution control.
Mr. Trippier : The Department of the Environment and the Welsh Office have today published a document entitled "Integrated Pollution Control--a Practical Guide" which provides guidance on part I of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and the associated regulations in so far as they relate to integrated pollution control (IPC). Copies have been placed in the House Libraries.
The guidance describes and explains the legislation. It describes the procedures for obtaining or varying an IPC authorisation and explains the meaning of key terms such as best available techniques not entailing excessive cost.
The guidance takes account of discussions with various representative bodies, including the Confederation of British Industry and the Chemical Industries Association.
I believe the guidance will prove an invaluable source of assistance to both industry and HMIP in securing the orderly implementation and operation of IPC. It complements and provides the framework for more detailed guidance and instructions on IPC procedures and individual classes of IPC process which HMIP will be publishing in the coming weeks and months. In addition, over the next few months HMIP will be holding a series of seminars locally for businesses which will come within IPC, to explain in depth how the new system will work in practice. Details will be available shortly.
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The general guidance will be reviewed after about 12 months' experience of IPC and will, if necessary, then be amended and updated.The general guidance can be obtained free of charge from the Department of the Environment, Room A107, Romney house, 43 Marsham street, London SW1P 3PY or from the HMIP regional headquarters offices in Bedford, Bristol and Leeds.
Environmental Impact Assessment Convention
Mr. Moss : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the convention on environmental impact assessment in a transboundary context.
Sir George Young : Her Majesty's ambassador to Finland signed the convention on environmental impact assessment in a transboundary context on behalf of the United Kingdom at Espoo, Finland on 26 February 1991.
The convention sets out arrangements under which the environmental assessment procedures for proposed activities which are likely to have significant adverse transboundary impacts are extended to involve the authorities and public in affected countries. The convention applies to the activities specified in appendix I to the convention where they are likely to have significant adverse transboundary impacts, and to any other activities where the parties concerned so agree.
The convention's provisions are consistent with the provisions of directive 85/337/EEC on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment which has been implemented in the United Kingdom by various regulations including the Town and Country Planning (Assessment of Environmental Effects) Regulations 1988 (S.I. No. 1199). Where a project which is likely to have significant adverse transboundary effects is proposed in the United Kingdom and is subject to environmental assessment, the appropriate Government Department will ensure, as part of the environmental assessment procedures, that the requirements of the convention are complied with.
The Government welcome this convention, which was negotiated in an ad hoc group of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, and in the preparation of which the United Kingdom took an active part. For the most part, because of our geographical position, activities in the United Kingdom are unlikely to have significant adverse environmental effects in other countries. However, the convention will make an important contribution to international environmental improvement by ensuring that where development projects are likely to have significant adverse transboundary effects those effects are taken into account and appropriate mitigation measures are considered before such projects are approved.
Ironbridge
Mr. Cash : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has for the future of Ironbridge following the wind-up of Telford development corporation ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Yeo : In June 1989, my hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment and Countryside agreed to the setting up of a trust to take on the management of historical and archaeological assets at Ironbridge, to coincide with the winding up of Telford development corporation.
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The unique collection of historic and archaeological remains in the Ironbridge Gorge is recognised as a world heritage site and is a significant national tourist attraction. Setting up a trust was considered to be the most appropriate means of ensuring a secure future for the collection.To reflect the importance of this transfer, my Department is establishing an endowment of £4 million for the trust, Ironbridge Heritage Foundation Ltd, for the maintenance and management of the site and monuments. The trust will soon be exploring investment options for the dowry and ownership of the assets will be transferred from Telford development corporation to the trust.
Tonbridge and Malling
Sir John Stanley : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what use he intends to make of his sanction powers under part III of the Local Government Planning and Land Act 1980 in relation to Tonbridge and Malling borough council.
Mr. Key : On 10 October 1990, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State served a notice under section 19A of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 on Tonbridge and Malling borough council, setting out his view that in 1988-89 the authority had failed to achieve the required rate of return in carrying out the work described in section 10(2)(a) to (d) of the Act (highways, construction and maintenance work).
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has now considered the response which the authority made to the section 19A notice which acknowledged the failure to achieve the rate of return in 1988-89 and also in 1989-90. The authority indicated that it has resolved to cease carrying out the work described in section 10(2)(a) to (d) of the Act, with the exception of winter maintenance and emergency works, by the end of the current financial year.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has concluded that the record of financial failure by the authority's direct service organisation is such as to justify further use of his sanction powers. He has therefore today made a direction under section 19B of the 1980 Act prohibiting the authority from carrying out the work described in section 10(2)(a) to (d) of the Act after 31 March 1991, with the exception of winter maintenance and emergency works.
Emission Controls
Mr. Janman : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what considerations he has given to the implications of EC competition policy when drafting emission control regulations, in particular those affecting small-scale users of coal or refuse-derived fuel ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Baldry [holding answer 27 February 1991] : My hon. Friend is aware that we are taking appropriate advantage of the derogation in the municipal waste incineration directive. Controls on the small-scale burning of coal and refuse-derived fuel are currently being drafted.
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Noise Insulation
Mr. Mallon : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give details of the assistance available to householders who need to insulate their homes against noise pollution ; and what conditions must be met to qualify for assistance.
Mr. Chope [holding answer 22 February 1991] : I have been asked to reply.
I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave him on 22 February, Official Report , column 308. In addition we plan to introduce noise insulation regulations for new railways.
The Ministry of Defence is undertaking a programme to conduct noise surveys around military airfields in the United Kingdom and grants are paid for secondary double-glazing where homes are found to be subject to noise levels of 70 dB(A) averaged over a continuous 12-hour period.
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