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and (vi) Preston ; and if he will indicate the percentage of projects not approved for the financial year 1991-92 relating to (1) ethnic minority projects, (2) projects relating to disability, (3) economic developments and (4) the environment.Mr. Key [holding answer 19 April 1991] : I will write to the hon. Member.
Mr. Blunkett : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will provide a breakdown of the number of projects not approved for the 1991-92 financial year (a) numerically and (b) by cash value for the urban programme in (i) Halton, (ii) Hammersmith, (iii) Haringey, (iv) Hartlepool, (v) Kensington and Chelsea and (vi) Kingston upon Hull ; and what was the percentage of projects not approved for the financial year 1991-92 relating to (1) ethnic minority projects, (2) projects relating to disability, (3) economic developments and (4) the environment.
Mr. Portillo [holding answer 22 April 1991] : I will write to the hon. Member.
Local Government Finance
Mr. Blunkett : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will break down the number of projects not approved for the 1991-92 financial year (a) numerically and (b) by cash value for the urban programme in (i) Wandsworth London borough, (ii) Wigan, (iii) Wirral, (iv) Wolverhampton and (v) The Wrekin ; and what is the percentage of projects not approved for the financial year 1991-92 relating to (i) ethnic minority projects, (ii) projects relating to disability, (iii) economic developments and (iv) the environment.
Mr. Portillo : I will write to the hon. Member.
Mr. O'Brien : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will break down the number of projects not approved for the 1991-92 financial year (a) numerically and (b) by cash value for the urban programme in (i) South Tyneside, (ii) Southwark London borough, (iii) Stockton-on-Tees, (iv) Sunderland, (v) Tower Hamlets London borough and (vi) Walsall ; and what is the percentage of projects not approved for the financial year 1991-92 relating to (1) ethnic projects, (2) projects relating to disability, (3) economic developments and (4) the environment.
Mr. Key : I will write to the hon. Member.
Water Consumption
Mr. Steinberg : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the annual consumption of water for industrial, agricultural, and domestic purposes for the past decade ; what is the average annual capacity, from all sources, of water reserves in the United Kingdom ; and what forecasts there are for future water consumption in the United Kingdom.
Mr. Baldry : The information that is held centrally is published annually for the Government statistical service in the "Digest of Environmental Protection and Water Statistics". The National Rivers Authority's March 1991 report "Demands and Resources of Water Undertakers in England and Wales" is also relevant. Both documents have been placed in the Library of the House.
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Conifers
Mr. Pike : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will make a statement pursuant to his Department's consultation letter of 15 June 1990 entitled "Conifer Planting in the English Uplands-Industrial Pennines."
Mr. Trippier : I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Gedling (Mr. Mitchell) on 23 April. [Official Report, columns 390-91].
Unfit Dwellings
Dr. Cunningham : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table of the most recent available data showing the number of unfit dwellings in each local authority area in England in the categories (a) unfit local authority properties, (b) unfit housing association properties, (c) unfit public sector properties, other than local authority owned, and (d) unfit private sector properties, other than housing association owned.
Sir George Young : Local authorities report the number of unfit dwellings in their own stock, and estimates of those owned by other public sector bodies, housing association, and privately owned in their annual housing investment programme returns, HIP1. The available figures for 1 April 1990 appear in "1990 HIP1 All Items Print", columns A31, A32, A33, and A34 respectively a copy of which is in the Library.
Management Consultants (Fees)
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total sum paid out in fees by his Department to management consultants in 1979-80 and in each following year ; and what is his estimate for 1990-91 and budget for 1991-92.
Mr. Heseltine : For the years 1979-80 to 1987-88 I refer the hon. Member to the reply he was given on 13 March 1989, Official Report columns 91-92. Following is the information relating to 1988-89 onwards :
|£ million
------------------------------
1988-89 |<1>9.5
1989-90 |16.3
1990-91 |<2>10.0
1991-92 |<3>8.3
<1> Final outturn.
<2> Provisional outturn.
<3> Provisional budget.
The 1991-92 figure excludes
PSA services, because its
budget has yet to be
finalised.
Archaeological Service
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures he intends to take to ensure the continued provision of an effective archaeological service to the capital.
Sir George Young : The Department of the Environment's strategy for handling archaeology within the planning system is detailed in the recently published planning policy guidance note 16 "Archaeology and Planning". It describes the role of English Heritage, in advising local planning authorities in London and the
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important part it plays in protecting important archaeological remains. English Heritage has announced measures to strengthen existing arrangements for providing planning advice to the London boroughs. In addition, the Museum of London has recently announced new arrangements which will enable it to continue to provide a valuable archaeological service, particularly to developers. I am confident that the strengthened service which English Heritage will provide and the complementary service to be provided by the Museum of London will ensure that an effective archaeological service is provided to the capital.Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had with English Heritage about its plans to withdraw funding from the Museum of London's archaeological service from April 1991.
Sir George Young : I am aware of the discussions which have taken place between English Heritage, and the Museum of London about English Heritage's proposals to change the method of funding the museum's archaeological services. English Heritage intends to convert the establishment grants presently paid to the museum to project funding in line with the project based system of archaeological funding which exists throughout the rest of the country. The conversion of the establishment grants to project funding will take place gradually over a four year period, 1991-95, and English Heritage has offered flexibility in funding during this period to help with any immediate difficulties. English Heritage has indicated to the museum that it anticipates providing funding in excess of £1 million in 1991-92 and approximately £1 million in 1992-93 and 1993-94. These new funding arrangements are designed to provide better value for money from public funds spent on archaeology and to provide continued support for the museum of London's work on archaeology.
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had with English Heritage about its plans to set up an in-house archaeological town planning advice service ; and whether English Heritage has sought any additional funding to cover the cost of setting up this service.
Sir George Young : I have been kept informed about the plans of English Heritage to strengthen the provision of archaeological advice which it provides to London boroughs and which reflect the approach which operates very successfully in other parts of the country. English Heritage is continuing discussions with the London boroughs, the museum of London and other interested parties about the operation of the proposed new arrangements.
English Heritage has not sought any additional Government funding in respect of the proposed new arrangements.
Countryside Commission (Staff)
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give for each year from 1979-80, including 1991-92, the number of staff actually employed on 1 April and the full complement of staff including vacant posts, by grade, in the statistical divisions in the
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Countryside Commission ; and if he will differentiate between staff in statistical posts and staff in administrative posts.Mr. Trippier : There are no statistical divisions or designated statistical posts in the Countryside Commission.
Nature Conservancy Council (Staff)
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give for each year from 1979-80, including 1991-92, the number of staff actually employed on 1 April and the full complement of staff including vacant posts, by grade, in the statistical divisions in the Nature Conservancy Council ; and if he will differentiate between staff in statistical posts and staff in administrative posts.
Mr. Trippier : There were no statistical divisions in the Nature Conservancy Council nor are there any in the Nature Conservancy Council for England.
Ordnance Survey (Staff)
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give for each year from 1979-80, including 1991-92, the number of staff actually employed on 1 April and the full complement of staff including vacant posts, by grade, in the statistical divisions in the Ordnance Survey ; and if he will differentiate between staff in statistical posts and staff in administrative posts.
Mr. Baldry : The Ordance Survey has no statistical divisions in its organisation, nor does it employ statisticians.
Branch Hill, Hampstead
Sir Geoffrey Finsberg : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received in respect of the proposed development at Branch hill, Hampstead ; and if he will call in the various proposals for his determination.
Sir George Young : Some 70 representations have been received from local residents last year and a few this year. An article 14 direction was placed on the site on 10 January 1990 requiring Camden to refer any proposals to the Secretary of State should it be minded to deem itself planning permission. This direction remains in force. Consideration will be given to calling-in the proposals should the council decide to deem itself planning permission.
Home Renovation Grants
Mr. Patrick Thompson : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what changes he proposes to make to the test of resources for house renovation grants ; and what further guidance is to be given to local authorities on the provisions of part VIII of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.
Mr. Yeo : Regulations uprating the allowances and premiums used to assess the eligibility of applicants for house renovation grants, including those to help provide facilities for disabled people, came into force today. These changes are in line with the annual uprating applied to
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other income related benefits on which the test of resources is based. Departmental circular 5/91, which was published on 24 April, explains the effect of the new regulations and gives advice on other matters relating to the implementation of parts VII and VIII of the 1989 Act.Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Pollution (Report)
Mr. Cash : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will publish the annual report of Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution for 1989-90.
Mr. Trippier : Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution published its third annual report covering 1989-90 yesterday. Copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
Privatisation
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total sum paid out in fees to outside organisations in the furtherance of privatisation by his Department in 1979-80 and in each following year ; and what is his estimate for 1990-91 and budget for 1991- 92.
Mr. Heseltine [holding answer 30 April] : The total sums paid out by my Department in fees to outside organisations for work resulting in privatisation since 1986-87 are shown below. My Department made no such payments in the years 1979-80 to 1985-86. The costs of the proposed privatisation of PSA services, including fees paid to advisers, will be reported to Parliament after the sale is completed and are not included here.
Year |£ million ------------------------------ 1986-87 |<1>1.1 1987-88 |<1>0.6 1988-89 |<1>5.1 1989-90 |133.8 1990-91 |9.4 1991-92 |<2>4.5 <1> Figures for these three years include expenditure on behalf of the Welsh Office which was not accounted for separately. <2> Estimated.
Biscombe's Lane, Callington
Mr. Robert Hicks : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment following the interim reply of the former Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Wells (Mr. Heathcoat-Amory), of 7 September 1990, to the initial approach of the hon. Member for Cornwall, South-East in August 1990 and the subsequent letters of the hon. Member for Cornwall, South-East on 25 October 1990, 6 November 1990 and 11 February, when he expects to provide a considered reply to the issue of the value of Biscombe's lane, Callington.
Mr. Key [holding answer 30 April 1991] : My noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State has done so today.
Local Authority Housing
Ms. Harman : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is the difference between the target and the actual management and maintenance allowances set for the London borough of Southwark for 1991-92 ;
(2) what is the level of the total target management and maintenance allowance for the London borough of Southwark's housing revenue account for 1991-92 ;
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(3) what is the actual figure per property for the London borough of Southwark's management and maintenance allowance for 1991-92 ; (4) what is the level of the total management and maintenance allowance set for the London borough of Southwark's housing revenue account for 1991-92.Mr. Yeo [holding answer 30 April 1991] : For any local housing authority, the allowance made in housing revenue account subsidy for management and maintenance in 1991-92 is determined partly by reference to a score that compares one authority's needs with another and partly by reference to their allowance for the previous year. By this means we are progressively introducing a redistribution, or targeting, of subsidy.
Final figures will depend upon statistics collected at the end of the financial year. The London borough of Southwark estimates that for 1991-92 :
(i) the allowance per dwelling would be £1,286.46 if calculated solely by reference to relative scores (£73,328,220 in total) (ii) the actual allowance per dwelling will be £1,051.27 (£59,922, 380 in total), so that
(iii) the difference would be £235.19 per dwelling (£13,405,840 in total).
Ms. Harman : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list (a) the target and (b) the actual management and maintenance allowances per dwelling set for each of the inner London boroughs' housing revenue accounts for 1991-92.
Mr. Yeo [holding answer 30 April 1991] :
Housing Revenue Account Subsidy 1991-92-M&M Allowances
|Target allowance per |Actual allowance per
|dwelling if calculated|dwelling after allow-
|solely by relative |ing for damping of
|scores |redistribution
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
City of London |2,149.87 |2,365.30
Camden |1,950.33 |1,565.72
Newham |1,232.32 |992.14
Hackney |1,459.12 |1,200.02
Hammersmith and
Fulham |- |-
Islington |1,572.98 |1,087.47
Kensington and
Chelsea |1,574.10 |1,546.49
Lambeth |1,514.96 |1,374.47
Lewisham |1,284.00 |1,117.39
Southwark |1,286.46 |1,051.27
Tower Hamlets |1,370.62 |1,451.23
Wandsworth |1,394.51 |1,197.93
Westminster |1,774.54 |1,735.60
The above data were taken from subsidy claims for 1991-92 submitted by local authorities. The London borough of Hammersmith and Fulham has yet to submit a claim.
Ms. Harman : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the supervision and management element of the target management and maintenance allowance will be based on calculated need rather than on past spend ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Yeo [holding answer 30 April 1991] : My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State intends to consult local authorities and their associations later this year on extending the system of targeted management and maintenance allowances to include the supervision and management component from next year.
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Ms. Harman : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the recommended figure per dwelling for the London borough of Southwark's management and maintenance allowance contained in his Department's research document "The Appraisal of Local Authority Housing".Mr. Yeo [holding answer 30 April 1991]: Although the system of targeting the maintenance component of housing revenue account subsidy management and maintenance allowance was based on results of a survey undertaken in 1987-88 into the condition of local authority stock, set out in the appraisal of local authority housing, the results were not specific to any one authority.
Press and Public Relations (Staff)
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give for each year from 1979-80, including 1991-92, the number of staff actually employed on 1 April and the full complement of staff, including vacant posts, in the press and public relations office of his Department.
Mr. Heseltine [holding answer 26 April 1991] : The staff in post and complement figures for the information directorate since 1 April 1989 are as follows :
|Staff in post|Complement
--------------------------------------------------------
1 April 1989 |47 |47
1 April 1990 |43 |49
1 April 1991 |45 |48
1 April 1992 |- |<1>48
<1>Provisional only.
Before 1989, the information directorate of this Department was part of the common services of DOE and the Department of Transport and separate figures for the resources for each Department are not available. Global information for this period is published each year in the form of a management information system for ministers MINIS dating back to 1979 and is available in the House of Commons Library.
EMPLOYMENT
Chainsaws
Mr. Gareth Wardell : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the Official Report the date when a requirement was made that students of sculpture working in wood required a recognised chainsaw certificate.
Mr. Forth : I am not aware of any such requirement. However, the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 requires that employers must ensure that anyone who uses chainsaws or other dangerous machinery, including students in an educational establishment, should first receive appropriate training and instruction. Where necessary Health and Safety Executive inspectors enforce this requirement at visits to workplaces, including educational establishments.
Mr. Gareth Wardell : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what information his Department holds on the number and nature of accidents through the use of chainsaws over each of the past 10 years.
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Mr. Forth : Information on the number of injuries caused by persons coming into contact with a chainsaw is in table 1. This information relates to injuries reported to the Health and Safety Executive's factory and agricultural inspectorates under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1985 for the period 1986-87 to 1989-90. Such injuries were not separately identified in the Health and Safety Executive's database before 1986-87.
Details of the nature of such injuries in 1989-90 are in table 2.
Table 1
Injuries resulting from coming into contact with a chainsaw as
reported to HSE's factory and agricultural inspectorates
from 1986-87 to 1989-90<1>
Severity of injury |1986-87 |1987-88 |1988-89 |1989-90<2>
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fatal |- |- |- |-
Major injury |9 |14 |10 |7
Injury resulting in over
three days off work 60 60 78 67
|--- |--- |--- |---
Total |69 |74 |88 |74
Table 2
Injuries resulting from coming into contact with a chainsaw as
reported to HSE's factory and agricultural inspectorates, 1989-90<2>
Nature of injury and Severity of injury
site of injury<3>
|Fatal |Major |Over |Total
|injury |three
|days off
|work
Amputation
Finger |- |1 |- |1
Fracture
Several locations |- |1 |- |1
Laceration
Total head |- |1 |7 |8
Total upper limbs |- |2 |16 |18
Total lower limbs |- |1 |29 |30
Contusion
Total torso |- |- |1 |1
Total upper limbs |- |- |1 |1
Total lower limbs |- |- |1 |1
Superficial
Total head |- |- |1 |1
Total torso |- |- |1 |1
Total upper limbs |- |- |5 |5
Total lower limbs |- |1 |5 |6
|--- |--- |--- |---
Total |- |7 |67 |74
<1> Years commencing 1 April.
<2> Provisional figures.
<3> Total head-includes injuries to the eye, ear, face, head.
Total torso-includes injuries to the neck, back and trunk.
Total upper limbs-includes injuries to finger(s), hand, wrist and rest of upper limb.
Total lower limbs-includes injuries to toe(s), foot, ankle and rest of lower limb.
Footnote: Injuries reported to the Factory and Agricultural Inspectorates cover the following sectors: manufacturing, construction,
agriculture and forestry, education and some service and leisure activities.
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Management Consultants (Fees)
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total sum paid out in fees by his Department to management consultants in 1979-80 and in each following year ; and what is his estimate for 1990- 91 and budget for 1991-92.
Mr. Jackson : Expenditure on management consultancy in the Employment Department group in each year from 1984-85 to 1988-89 was as follows :
|£ thousands
------------------------------------
1984-85 |365
1985-86 |365
1986-87 |1,032
1987-88 |653
1988-89 |998
1989-90 |1,482
The estimated outturn for 1990-91 is around £1,727,000. The budget for 1991-92 will be reported to Parliament in the usual way. Information for 1979-80 to 1983-84 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Small Businesses
Mr. Harry Greenway : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many small businesses were started up in the last year ; how many were closed ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Forth : The best available guide to trends in numbers of businesses comes from VAT data. Early indications are that there was a net increase of around 800 a week in 1990 in the number of businesses registered for VAT. While rather slower than the record rate of increase in 1989, this was nevertheless greater than the average rate of increase during the 1980s.
Enterprise Training
Mr. McGrady : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the level of funding to enterprise training in each year since 1 April 1987.
Mr. Forth : The Department of Employment has supported a number of enterprise programmes over the years in question. Expenditure on these was :
|£ million
------------------------------
1987-88 |249
1988-89 |257
1989-90 |262
The estimated outturn for 1990-91 is £283 million. This information can be obtained from the Government's Expenditure Plans 1991-92 to 1993-94 (Cm. 1506), which can be found in the Library.
British Tourist Authority
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give for each year from 1979-80, including 1991-92, the number of staff actually employed on 1 April and the full complement of staff, including vacant posts, by grade, in the statistical divisions in the
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British tourist authority ; and if he will differentiate between staff in statistical posts and staff in administrative posts.Mr. Forth : These matters are the responsibility of the board of the British tourist authority and I am asking the chairman to write directly to the hon. Gentleman.
HIV Testing
Mr. Cousins : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what information he has on how many companies are imposing compulsory HIV testing of their employees ; and whether this practice is consistent with the guidelines of the Health and Safety Executive.
Mr. Forth : I am not aware that a significant number of employers carry out HIV testing of employees or potential recruits. Most employers follow the advice given in "AIDS and the Workplace", jointly published by my Department and the Health and Safety Executive last year, that in all ordinary workplace activities the risks of transmission of the virus are negligible and infected individuals do not pose a risk to colleagues, customers or the public. HIV infection does not automatically make someone unfit for work and testing employees and recruits for HIV antibodies is unnecessary. In the case of existing employees, compulsory tests are unlikely to be admissible under most existing contracts of employment.
HEALTH
Electro-magnetic Radiation
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has commissioned or published in the past 10 years in respect of the health effects of electro-magnetic radiation from electricity pylons.
Mr. Dorrell : I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Normanton (Mr. O'Brien) on 29 November 1990 at columns 475-76. A summary of the results of the National Radiological Protection Board's review of published data has been published in the Journal of Radiological Protection, Volume 11 No. 1, pp 3-62, a copy of which is available in the Library. The full reviews will be published shortly as NRPB reports. In addition, the NRPB has recently announced the establishment of an advisory group on non-ionising radiation which will review work on the biological effects of non-ionising radiation relevant to human health and advise NRPB on research priorities.
Dentists (Prescriptions)
Mr. Sheerman : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of dentists charge for issuing a prescription to a patient as distinct from the patient charge per item.
Mr. Dorrell : Information is not available in the form requested. Dentists have been able to claim a fee for the "issue of a prescription only" since 1 October 1990 and, like most dental fees, this is subject to a 75 per cent. patient charge for adult patients who are not exempt from charges. In the period up to 31 December 1990--the latest
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for which figures are available--the Dental Practice Board scheduled only 16,533 claims for payment of this fee in England and Wales.Breast Care Nurses
Ms. Richardson : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the budget allocation for (a) the employment of breast care nurses in England and Wales and (b) the training of breast care nurses in England and Wales.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : Information on health authorities' budget allocations for the employment of breast care nurses is not held centrally.
The Royal Marsden hospital has received funding from the NHS breast screening programme budget to run courses for breast care nurses since 1987 -88 :
|£
----------------------
1987-88 |17,000
1988-89 |19,000
1989-90 |20,000
1990-91 |20,000
Arrangements in Wales are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.
Ms. Richardson : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the number of breast care nurses employed in each district health authority.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : This information is not held centrally.
Ms. Richardson : To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether guidance has been issued from his Department to health authorities on the employment of breast care nurses.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : Department of Health guidance, DA(87)14, asked health authorities to establish a breast cancer screening programme on the model set out in the Forrest report on breast cancer screening ; copies of both the letter and the report are available in the Library. The guidance stated that "assessment" teams should be supported by a nurse trained in the specialist skills required to care for women who may have cancer. It is for health authorities to decide what further arrangements they wish to make for the employment of breast care nurses.
Ms. Richardson : To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether there are one or more full-time breast care nurses employed in each breast cancer assessment centre.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : This information is not held centrally.
Ms. Richardson : To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he intends to extend the reconstructive breast surgery services in the United Kingdom.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : It is a matter for individual health authorities to determine how the resources available should be used.
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Lincolnshire Health Authorities
Sir Peter Tapsell : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many doctors were employed by the Sheffield regional health authority (1) to work in the area of the South Lincolnshire health authority in March 1979 and March 1991, respectively ;
(2) to work in the area of the North Lincolnshire health authority in March 1979 and March 1991, respectively ;
(3) how many consultants were employed by the Sheffield regional health authority to work in the area of the South Lincolnshire health authority in March 1979 and March 1991, respectively.
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