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Written Answers to Questions
Monday 13 May 1991
TRANSPORT
Wheel-clamping
Mr. McMaster : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will bring forward proposals to make it illegal to wheel-clamp orange badge holders on private car parks or other private land.
Mr. Chope : I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Clwyd, South-West (Mr. Jones) on 25 April at column 524 .
Brighton Line
Mr. Rowe : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he is to attend the forthcoming British Rail celebrations of the 150th anniversary of the Brighton line.
Mr. Freeman : I hope to be present for the ceremony for the reintroduction of the Brighton Belle on 21 September.
High-speed Rail Link
Mr. Rowe : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish the scheme for the high-speed rail link submitted to him by British Rail and the alternative proposals.
Mr. Freeman : I expect British Rail's report on the route options to be published in due course when we have had time to consider it.
ENVIRONMENT
Recycling
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether Welsh local authorities and voluntary bodies are eligible to bid for money from the £40 million kitty established in his Department's recycling encouragement initiative.
Mr. Baldry : No. £40 million of supplementary credit approvals are being made available over three years for local authorities in England.
Local Government Finance
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table showing for Great Grimsby, Barrow in Furness, Wandsworth, Westminster and Elmbridge particulars of the amount spent and income received per adult under each category in table 4 of "Local Government Financial Statistics No. 2 1990".
Mr. Key : I have today arranged for the available information to be placed in the Library of the House.
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Mr. Blunkett : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to abolish the £15 million budget exemption rule for the purposes of charge-capping designation ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Portillo : Ministers have indicated that this is an issue to be considered.
Parrots
Mr. Gould : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many licences for the importation of (i) green-cheeked Amazon parrots and (ii) grey parrots were issued in each year since 1988 ; (2) what advice he has received from the United Kingdom Scientific Authority on the convention on international trade in endangered species concerning the importation of (i) green-cheeked Amazon parrots and (ii)grey parrots.
Mr. Heseltine : The information requested is as follows :
Licences issued
|1988|1989|1990
-----------------------------------------------
Green cheeked Amazons
(Amazona viridigenalis) |3 |1 |-
Grey Parrots
(Psittacus erithacus) |151 |148 |94
All applications to import these species are referred to our scientific advisers, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, for advice on whether such imports would be harmful to efforts to conserve the species.
Urban Development
Miss Emma Nicholson : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion of the land area of England is (a) now urbanised or built upon and (b) likely to be urbanised or built upon by the end of the century based on existing plans.
Mr. Yeo : Recently published research by my Department on rates of urbanisation in England 1981-2001 showed that in 1981, 10.2 per cent. of the land area of England was urbanised and forecast that by 2001 the extent of urbanisation would be 11 per cent., an increase of 7.9 per cent. over a 20-year period. This estimate was based on the likely land requirements to house the projected increase in households, rather than the proposals in structure plans.
Cleaning Agents
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a summary of the main findings of the departmental report on pollutants in cleaning agents.
Mr. Baldry : A summary of the main findings of the departmental report on pollutants in cleaning agents has been published along with the report. Copies have been placed in the Library and have been sent to interested parties.
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EC Structural Funds
Ms. Quin : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if his Department is to propose any changes to the rules governing access by local authorities to the European regional development fund and other EC structural funds.
Mr. Yeo : Access by local authorities to the European structural funds, including the European regional development fund--ERDF--is governed by the relevant European Community regulations which establish operating procedures for the structural funds. In consultation with member states, the Commission will be reviewing the structural funds so that new regulations can be in place by the end of 1993. In the meantime, no change is envisaged to the current arrangements whereby local authorities apply for ERDF grants.
Water Shortages
Mr. Speed : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what account is taken of the shortage of water in the south-east of England in the planning department and inspectorate of his Department.
Mr. Yeo : Water shortage can be a material planning consideration to be taken into account by my right hon. Friend and his inspectors when taking planning decisions. When local planning authorities prepare their development plans, they commonly consult the National Rivers Authority about the water resource implications. Such plans may include policies that planning permission will normally only be granted for development when appropriate infrastructure, including the provision of water, is available.
Water storage can be one of the technical matters to be considered when my right hon. Friend or his inspectors determine applications for orders or appeals under the Water Acts. In such cases, and particularly when surface supplies are in jeopardy, the stored quantity of water is considered against the demands upon it.
Affordable Housing
Mr. David Nicholson : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his policy on the role of the planning system in facilitating the provision of affordable housing ; and if he will make a statement.
Sir George Young : We are today publishing guidance in a circular, describing the role the planning system can play in securing the provision of affordable housing, and announcing more flexible arrangements to encourage shared ownership schemes in rural areas. The planning system must play an important role in securing adequate provision of affordable housing. Development plans should make realistic assessments of total housing requirements, including the provision needed for affordable housing. While not imposing fixed quotas, plan policies can reasonably encourage developers to incorporate affordable housing in larger developments. In rural areas, we have encouraged authorities to develop policies for the release of small, "off-plan" sites for affordable housing.
In development control, conditions and agreements can be used to promote affordable housing schemes, where control is exercised in pursuance of a proper planning
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objective, and is sound and enforceable. Such schemes may be promoted in partnership with private developers, but, generally, the most secure and effective way of securing the provision of affordable housing is by co-operation with a housing association or other body, such as a village trust, whose continuing interest in the property, through either renting or shared ownership, can provide a basis for control over subsequent changes of ownership or occupation. We have decided to make a change in the present arrangements for shared ownership. Until now, we have not allowed public subsidy to be invested in schemes unless the occupiers have a right to "staircase" to full owner-occupation if they wish, at a time of their choosing, without being forced to move.To encourage more schemes in the future, we have decided to amend our policy, and also allow public subsidy to be put into housing association and other private shared ownership schemes which contain a reasonable staircasing restriction in the special circumstances of a rural settlement. Details of those circumstances are set out in the circular published today.
This is an important measure of flexibility which I know will be welcomed by many organisations who wish to see more done to bring home ownership within the reach of existing villagers. We have listened to their advice and we have acted. I now look to local authorities, to landowners and developers, and to housing associations to respond.
Overseas Disasters
Mr. Madden : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will arrange to repeal the legislation which prohibits local authorities from contributing directly to appeal funds to relieve overseas disasters.
Mr. Key [holding answer 10 May 1991] : Local authorities have only the powers that have been given to them by, or under, an Act of Parliament. Parliament has never given to them a power to contribute directly to an appeal fund which is solely for the relief of disasters outside the United Kingdom. There is, therefore, no legislative prohibition to repeal.
Monitoring Nitrogen and Sulphur Dioxide
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to increase the number of (a) nitrogen monitoring stations and (b) sulphur dioxide monitoring stations operating in the United Kingdom.
Mr. Trippier : The Government are taking forward plans, announced in the environment White Paper, for a major expansion of the United Kingdom monitoring networks. Proposals for a new £3 million enhanced urban monitoring programme are currently out to tender. These proposals aim to increase the number of automatic sites measuring nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide from 15 at present to 27 over the next three years. The first phase of the programme will locate new sites in London, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Belfast, Newcastle and Birmingham and is expected to be complete early next year.
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Environment Conference
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the outcome of the second preparatory committee meeting of the United Nations conference on environment and development.
Mr. Trippier : The second meeting of the preparatory committee for the United Nations conference on environment and
development--UNCED--took place in Geneva from 18 March to 5 April 1991. The preparatory committee examined a series of reports on environment and development topics and instructed the conference secretariat to prepare further reports, focusing on potential areas for action by Governments and international organisations, in time for the third meeting of the preparatory committee in Geneva from 12 August to 4 September 1991.
The preparatory committee made progress in a number of areas, including agreement on the participation of non-governmental organisations in the preparatory meetings and on the examination of options for a global consensus on forests by the committee at its third meeting. This decision could lead to a statement of guiding principles on the management of the world's forests for endorsement by world leaders at UNCED. Working group III of the preparatory committee was established and began its examination of legal, institutional and related matters. The preparatory committee had an initial discussion of the secretary-general's proposals for a programme of work for the international community in the period following the 1992 United Nations conference.
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assistance has been made available to non-governmental organisations to participate in the preparatory meetings for the 1992 United Nations conference on environment and development.
Mr. Trippier : My Department is providing financial assistance for the programme of non-governmental preparations for UNCED which is being organised by the International Institute for Environment and Development on behalf of the United Kingdom committee for the United Nations Environment Programme--UNEP-UK. The United Kingdom delegation to the first two meetings of the preparatory committee for UNCED included a non-governmental adviser from UNEP-UK.
Chernobyl
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has received on the effects of radioactive contamination from Chernobyl upon soil bacteria (a) in the immediate exclusion zone around Chernobyl and (b) elsewhere ; and whether his Department has made any scientific study of the effects of radioactive materials on soil bacteria.
Mr. Trippier : A study of the interactions between soil components and radionuclides forms part of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food research programme. My Department has not commissioned any research of this nature.
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Heather Moorland
Mr. Hardy : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the proportion of heather moorland which has been lost in the last 30 years.
Mr. Trippier : My Department's estimate of heather cover in England and Wales indicates that between 1947 and 1980 heather cover decreased by 20 per cent. We shall have information on losses over the past decade when the results of the "Countryside Survey 1990" have been analysed.
Poll Tax
Mr. Blunkett : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had on the question of the immediate abolition of the 20 per cent. contribution rule under poll tax ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Portillo : I have received a number of representations. I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Caernarfon (Mr. Wigley) on 8 May, Official Report, column 706.
Land Decontamination
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to assess the cost of decontaminating land in the United Kingdom.
Mr. Trippier : No. It is not possible to make a realistic estimate of the costs nationwide. However, the Government have introduced legislation--section 143 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990--to require local authorities to set up registers of land that has been subject to contaminative use, and I am pleased to be able to inform the House that a consultation paper with our proposals for registers has just been published. A copy has been placed in the Library of the House.
When registers are established, we shall know for the first time how much land may be contaminated. Any assessment of the need for decontamination, the methods to be used and their cost would, however, have to be carried out individually for each site as the need arises. The Government are also carrying out research on these issues and we shall publish guidance on them when the results are to hand.
Global Biodiversity Convention
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if his Department will make available resources to enable
non-governmental organisations to attend the next meeting of the negotiating forum on a global biodiversity convention planned for 24 June to 3 July in Madrid.
Mr. Trippier : The purpose of the Madrid meeting is for Governments to negotiate a framework convention on the conservation of biological diversity. The Department has made no financial provision to enable non- governmental organisations to attend as observers and no request for resources has been made. The Department has made arrangements for regular consultations on the progress and content of the negotiations with the most qualified individuals and organisations from the non-governmental community.
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Rhino Products
Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any proposals to tighten international and national legislation relating to the trade in rhino products.
Mr. Trippier : All five species of rhinoceros are listed on appendix I of the convention on international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora--CITES. This means that almost all trade in rhino products is prohibited already under legislation implementing CITES--EC regulation 3626/82 in the European Community.
Elephants, South Africa
Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to oppose any moves by the South African authorities to transfer their elephant population to appendix II of CITES ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Trippier : The final decision on the application from South Africa for the downlisting of its elephant population will be a matter for the conference of the parties to CITES. We should need to establish in consultation with our EC partners a common Community position. I can confirm that the United Kingdom would not support any proposals to permit trade to recommence unless we were fully satisfied that the conditions for a resumption of trade, drawn up at the seventh CITES conference, had been met.
Live Animals (Transport)
Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on the number of transit-shed operators at Heathrow airport which operate road vehicles which conform with International Air Transport Association regulations regarding the movement of live animals and birds.
Mr. Trippier : The IATA live animals regulations do not cover ground transport. It is the responsibility of the shipper to ensure that live animals are packed in accordance with the regulations, and the responsibility of the carrier to ensure that live animal shipments are properly handled and loaded.
Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on which airlines landed consignments of live birds into the United Kingdom in 1990.
Council Tax
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table showing for Great Grimsby the number of householders qualifying for (i) rate relief, (ii) housing benefit, (iii) the average amount per head in each case and (iv) his forecast under the council tax.
Miss Widdecombe : I have been asked to reply.
The latest information is as follows :
(i) 11,822 as at February 1990.
(ii) 8,000 as at February 1991.
It is not possible to provide figures showing the average amounts payable in these cases or to provide forecasts for the council tax.
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Exotic Animals
Mr. Corbett : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what records his Department keeps of (a) the importers and (b) the retailers dealing in exotic animals as domestic pets.
Mr. Trippier [holding answer 10 May 1991] : My Department maintains a record of all applications to import species controlled under the provisions of the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act 1976 and EC regulation 3626/82, which implements the convention on international trade in endangered species--CITES--in the European Community. We do not, however, maintain a register of retailers as such.
Mr. Corbett : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many flying foxes, of what species, have been imported into the United Kingdom in the past five years ; and whether he will list the most regular exporting countries.
Mr. Trippier [holding answer 10 May 1991] : Since 1 January 1986, a total of 160 specimens of the Indian flying fox--Pteropus giganteus --have been imported, from Indonesia. Licences have also been issued for the import of 44 specimens of the Rodriguez flying fox--Pteropus rodricensis--from Mauritius and 20 specimens of the Malayan flying fox-- Pteropus vampyrus--from Thailand.
HOME DEPARTMENT
Hospices (Direct Mailing)
Mr. Galbraith : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the proposed EC restrictions on direct mailing and his assessment of its effect on hospices with charity status.
Mrs. Rumbold : Proposed requirements in the draft EC data protection directive for consent by data subjects seem likely seriously to inhibit targeted direct mailing by various organisations, including those with charitable status. The Government are taking up this point in the negotiations in Brussels.
Domestic Violence
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps the Metropolitan police are taking to improve safety in domestic violence units and in the handling of cases.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : I understand from the commissioner that, in the light of the tragic incident which recently occurred in the domestic violence unit at Stoke Newington police station, he has appointed a senior officer to consider the implications for practice within the Metropolitan police.
Lewes Prison
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 22 April, Official Report , column 298 , if he will state the reasons why Lewes prison was put on maximum security alert on (a) 22 November 1990 and (b) 2 to 6 December 1990 ; and what were the results obtained.
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Mrs. Rumbold : On 22 November 1990, a full alert was called at Lewes prison in response to information about a planned mass escape involving a firearm. Nothing was found during searches.Following the discovery of a replica firearm on 2 December, a further full alert was initiated from 2 to 6 December 1990. In the course of extensive searches of all parts of the prison, a number of rounds of blank ammunition were found.
Prisons
Mr. Nellist : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many places, not including accommodation temporarily taken out of use for refurbishment, are currently provided in prisons ; and what is the total prison population at the latest convenient date.
Mrs. Rumbold : On 9 May the total certified normal accommodation of prison service establishments was 44,336 places. This figure excluded places taken out of use for major refurbishment, but included places taken temporarily out of use for repairs or minor refurbishment--for example, for the installation of integral sanitation systems. On the same day, the prison population, including prisoners held in police cells, was 45,262.
Breath-Testing Devices
Sir Ian Lloyd : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will issue a direction under section 9 of the Broadcasting Act 1990 to the Independent Television Commission on the advertising of breath-testing devices ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : The advertising of breath-testing devices is prohibited under the ITC's code of advertising standards and practice. The ITC has not proposed any change and we have no plans to issue a direction.
Drug Abuse
Sir John Wheeler : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his response to the report by the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs entitled "Problem Drugs Use : A Review of Training".
Mr. John Patten : The Government welcome this report and are grateful to the advisory council for the time it has devoted to this important subject. I have today written to the chairman, Professor Grahame- Smith, to convey the Government's response to the council's recommendations. A copy of my letter has been placed in the Library.
CIVIL SERVICE
Civil Service College
40. Mr. Hague : To ask the Minister for the Civil Service if he will encourage the Civil Service college to attract private sector students and strengthen links between Government and industry.
Mr. Renton : Yes. I have set the college a strategic target to increase the number of private sector students by nearly 300 per cent. between now and 1995.
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Next Steps" Initiative
41. Mr. Hayes : To ask the Minister for the Civil Service what steps he is taking to improve and extend the training available to civil servants to enable them to take advantage of the "next steps" initiative.
Mr. Renton : In line with the principles of "next steps", it is for Departments and agencies, in the light of their business objectives, to ensure that their staff are properly trained and developed for the job. My own Department supports them in this, particularly through the Civil Service college.
Mrs. Gorman : To ask the Minister for the Civil Service if he has any plans to encourage contracting out as part of the "next steps" programme ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Renton : Agencies are intended to deliver better quality public services within available resources. One important way of doing this, in accordance with Government policy, is by testing wherever possible the costs of having work done by the private sector compared with in-house costs, and selecting the option which gives best value for money. As with the question of privatisation, the scope for contracting out the whole of the activity is addressed before each agency is set up and will be kept under review subsequently.
THE ARTS
Libraries
32. Mrs. Heal : To ask the Minister for the Arts what proposals he has to safeguard the level and quality of book stocks in libraries in the West Midlands region.
Mr. Renton : The day-to-day running of public libraries including the provision of book stocks is a matter for local library authorities in the light of local needs and priorities.
I investigate any complaints which I receive about the levels of services provided.
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