| Previous Section | Home Page |
Fire Regulations
Mr. Michael J. Martin : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration has been given to the concern fire officers, insurers and others expressed for the safety of life and property in response to the original consultation paper of March 1990 in preparing the revised England and Wales Building Regulations (Fire).
Column 513
Mr. Yeo : Officials will shortly be meeting representatives of the chief fire officers to discuss their concerns about the proposals which have been put forward for the revision of part B-- safety in fire--of the Building Regulations 1985. Similar meetings have already been held with other representatives of the fire service, with fire insurers, and with a considerable number of other bodies who have commented on the proposals. Together with the written comments, the views expressed at these meetings will be fully taken into account when final decisions on these proposals come to be taken.Mr. Michael J. Martin : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the results of consultation on the England and Wales Building Regulations (Fire) will be announced.
Mr. Yeo : The detailed outcome of the review of part B safety in fire--of the Building Regulations 1985 is likely to be anounced in the autumn.
Mr. Michael J. Martin : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he intends to take to ensure that the introduction of any new England and Wales Building Regulations (Fire) does not result in higher costs due to higher insurance premiums.
Mr. Yeo : There have been discussions with fire insurers about the proposals for the revision of part B--safety in fire--of the Building Regulations 1985. Their views will be fully taken into account when final decisions on these proposals come to be taken. However, the primary purpose of the regulations is to protect the health and safety of people, while fire insurers are also concerned with the protection of property. The regulations represent minimum requirements. There is no reason however why buildings should not be constructed to higher standards to meet any insurance requirements related to the protection of property.
Common Land
Mr. Andrew F. Bennett : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Hyndburn (Mr. Hargreaves), Official Report, 26 March, columns 352-53, if he will set out the reservations expressed by each interested party on common land legislation ; if he will place copies of written representations from each interested party in the Library ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Baldry : In the discussions held with all major interests following the Government statement of 26 July 1990, views were sought both on the content of prospective comprehensive common land legislation and on the alternative of a short Bill to prevent deregistration. Apart from the national access bodies, the majority of the interests consulted indicated opposition, in varying degrees, to the latter.
After various amenity bodies wrote to Ministers in October 1990 suggesting that the Government introduce a short Bill, the Countryside Commission, the Government's statutory adviser on this matter, confirmed in writing its continued lack of support for this proposal, and the National Farmers Union wrote confirming their opposition. We have no authority from these bodies to place their representations in the Library.
Column 514
Society of Fire Protection Engineers
Mr. Michael J. Martin : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representation there is on the committee advising him on the England and Wales Building Regulations (Fire) from the Society of Fire Protection Engineers.
Mr. Yeo : I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Hyndburn (Mr. Hargreaves) on 21 February, Official Report, column 201.
EC Labelling Scheme
Mr. Nigel Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Denton and Reddish (Mr. Bennett) of 26 March, Official Report, column 354, whether there has been any progress on development of an eco-labelling scheme for the United Kingdom ; whether he has received any notification from the European Commission on the development of a Community-wide labelling scheme ; what is his policy on whether such a scheme should be voluntary ; and when he considers implementation of such a scheme might commence.
Mr. Baldry : The Government have made it clear they support the introduction of a voluntary eco-labelling scheme, and that they would prefer this to be part of an arrangement covering the whole of the European Community. However, if there is undue delay in agreeing a Community scheme we will go ahead with introducing a national scheme. We want an official eco-labelling scheme to be in place as soon as possible, and expect the first labels to be awarded during 1992.
House Values
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table showing by fifths, sevenths and tenths the value of dwellings and of households incomes before tax.
Mr. Key : The information requested is not available.
Right to Buy
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those local housing authorities in England who have put forward schemes under the Housing Act 1988 to provide council tenants with a cash grant to help them buy a home in the private sector ; how many houses have been purchased to date under the provisions in each of those district council areas ; what was the minimum and maximum level of grants paid to each area ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Yeo : Local authority cash incentive schemes can be a valuable means of helping tenants into home ownership while releasing vacancies for reletting to homeless people. Table 1 lists schemes approved to date and gives the maximum grant payable under each scheme. Further schemes for 1991 -92 are under consideration. Authorities report annually on the outturn of their schemes. Table 2 gives the number of properties bought with assistance under 1989-90 schemes and average grants paid : information on maximum and minimum grants paid is not readily available. Reports on 1990- 91 schemes are still being received.
Column 515
Table 1
£ thousands
Local authority |1989-90 |1990-91 |1991-92
|Maximum |Maximum |Maximum
|grant |grant |grant
|available |available |available
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eastern
Aylesbury Vale |11.000 |20.000 |24.000
Broxbourne |- |- |28.000
Colchester |10.000 |20.000 |20.000
Dacorum |- |- |25.000
East Hertfordshire |- |- |27.500
Harlow |10.000 |10.000 |-
Huntingdon |- |13.000 |-
North Hertfordshire |- |- |14.000
Luton |13.000 |13.000 |15.000
Maldon |- |12.500 |-
Peterborough |- |5.000 |5.000
Rochford |11.250 |11.250 |26.700
St. Albans |13.000 |25.000 |25.000
South Buckinghamshire |11.000 |11.000 |-
Southend |- |15.000 |15.000
South Norfolk |- |- |13.000
Stevenage |- |- |15.000
Three Rivers |- |7.000 |7.000
Watford |12.000 |13.500 |15.000
East Midlands
Amber Valley |- |5.000 |-
Charnwood |- |10.000 |-
Daventry |- |10.000 |-
East Northants. |- |6.000 |6.000
South Kesteven |8.000 |8.000 |-
London
Barnet |- |20.000 |20.000
Brent |- |20.000 |20.000
Bromley |13.000 |13.000 |13.000
Camden |- |20.000 |25.000
Croydon |13.000 |22.000 |22.500
Ealing |13.000 |15.000 |22.000
Enfield |- |20.000 |20.000
Hackney |- |20.000 |20.000
Hammersmith and Fulham |- |18.000 |20.000
Haringey |- |20.000 |20.000
Harrow |12.500 |25.000 |25.000
Havering |13.000 |16.000 |16.000
Hillingdon |- |26.554 |26.554
Hounslow |- |15.000 |20.000
Islington |- |25.000 |25.000
Kensington and Chelsea |- |25.000 |33.000
Kingston upon Thames |- |- |20.000
Lambeth |- |20.000 |20.000
Lewisham |- |15.000 |15.000
London
Merton |- |27.000 |28.000
Redbridge |- |28.000 |28.000
Richmond |- |25.000 |20.000
Southwark |- |10.000 |15.000
Sutton |- |- |18.000
Tower Hamlets |- |- |21.000
Waltham Forest |- |- |25.000
Wandsworth |13.000 |22.000 |22.000
Westminster |13.000 |20.000 |20.000
South East
Adur |10.000 |10.000 |16.000
Arun |10.000 |10.000 |10.000
Basingstoke and Deane |- |25.000 |-
Bracknell |- |- |22.500
Brighton |- |20.000 |20.000
Canterbury |- |22.500 |24.500
Cherwell |- |12.500 |10.000
Chichester |- |- |24.000
Dartford |- |- |24.000
Dover |- |22.000 |22.000
Eastbourne |- |- |20.000
East Hampshire |- |10.000 |25.000
Eastleigh |- |- |21.600
Elmbridge |- |20.000 |20.000
Fareham |- |21.495 |21.000
Gillingham |8.000 |15.000 |15.000
Guildford |- |- |28.800
Gosport |- |- |18.000
Gravesham |10.000 |10.000 |10.000
Hart |8.000 |25.000 |25.000
Hastings |- |10.000 |10.000
Havant |- |15.000 |15.000
Horsham |- |17.000 |17.000
Hove |- |20.000 |20.000
Lewes |- |10.000 |-
Maidstone |- |25.000 |25.000
Mole Valley |- |- |25.000
New Forest |10.000 |17.000 |15.000
Oxford |- |15.000 |15.000
Portsmouth |- |20.000 |15.000
Reading |- |20.000 |25.000
Reigate and Banstead |- |20.000 |20.000
Rochester |8.000 |- |-
Rother |- |23.000 |23.000
Runnymede |- |14.000 |20.000
Rushmoor |8.000 |12.000 |15.000
Shepway |13.000 |21.600 |20.800
Slough |13.000 |13.000 |12.5000
Southampton |- |15.000 |15.000
South East
Spelthorne |12.000 |24.000 |24.000
Tandridge |12.000 |12.000 |12.000
Test Valley |10.000 |10.000 |10.000
Thanet |- |- |20.000
Tonbridge and Malling |- |25.000 |-
Tunbridge Wells |12.000 |24.000 |22.000
Vale of White Horse |- |15.000 |15.000
Wealden |6.000 |20.000 |20.000
West Oxfordshire |- |20.000 |-
Woking |- |13.500 |25.000
Wokingham |- |- |25.000
Worthing |- |15.000 |15.000
South West
Bournemouth |- |10.000 |-
Carrick |5.000 |10.000 |-
Exeter |- |10.000 |10.000
Kennet |10.000 |10.000 |10.000
Mendip |10.000 |10.000 |10.000
North Cornwall |7.500 |7.500 |-
North Wiltshire |- |10.000 |-
Poole |7.500 |7.500 |8.500
Purbeck |- |10.000 |-
Salisbury |- |10.000 |-
South Somerset |- |10.000 |-
Stroud |- |- |10.000
Taunton Deane |10.000 |10.000 |-
Teignbridge |7.500 |7.500 |-
Woodspring |- |- |10.000
West Midlands
Malvern Hills |- |- |10.000
Solihull |- |8.000 |-
Stafford |- |10.000 |-
Wyre Forest |- |- |10.000
Yorkshire and Humberside
Hambleton |- |10.000 |10.000
Table file CW910522.032 not available
Column 517
Table 2
Local Authority 1989-90 Schemes
AveragProperties
grant purchased
|(£ )
-----------------------------------------
Eastern
Aylesbury Vale |11.0 |1 |(1)
Colchester |8.3 |9 |(9)
Harlow |8.3 |3 |(1)
Luton |0.0 |0 |(0)
Rochford |10.0 |1 |(1)
St. Albans |13.0 |1 |(0)
South Buckingham |9.0 |1 |(1)
Watford |0.0 |0 |(0)
East Midlands
South Kesteven |6.6 |8 |(8)
London
Bromley |10.5 |92 |(52)
Croydon |13.0 |1 |(0)
Ealing |10.8 |39 |(19)
Harrow |12.5 |16 |(8)
Havering |11.5 |20 |(8)
Wandsworth |11.4 |29 |(5)
Westminster |12.8 |55 |(0)
South East
Adur |10.0 |12 |(12)
Arun |10.0 |1 |(0)
Gillingham |8.0 |2 |(1)
Gravesham |10.0 |1 |(0)
Hart |8.0 |1 |(1)
New Forest |7.4 |9 |(7)
Rochester |6.2 |5 |(1)
Rushmoor |7.0 |2 |(0)
Shepway |10.4 |4 |(3)
Slough |12.0 |2 |(0)
Spelthorne |0.0 |0 |(0)
Tandridge |12.0 |12 |(2)
Test Valley |10.0 |3 |(1)
Tunbridge Wells |11.0 |2 |(2)
Wealden |6.0 |4 |(2)
South West
Kennet |10.0 |3 |(3)
Mendip |10.0 |12 |(7)
North Cornwall |7.5 |2 |(2)
Poole |5.5 |4 |(3)
Taunton Deane |8.8 |24 |(20)
Teignbridge |7.5 |1 |(0)
Note: Numbers in parentheses relate to
properties purchased within
the boundary of the local authority.
East London River Crossing
Mr. Cartwright : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he now expects to recieve the report of the second public inquiry on the east London river crossing ; and when he will announce his decision.
Mr. Yeo : When the inspector has completed his report and when my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State and the Secretary of State for Transport have considered it.
Column 518
Environmental Protection
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on progress achieved with the European Community programme preventative environmental protection approaches in Europe since 1990.
Mr. Baldry : I will write to the hon. Member.
Global Warming
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will obtain for his departmental library a copy of the research programme of the International Council of Scientific Unions on global warming and climate change.
Mr. Baldry : The scientific staff of the global atmosphere division of the Department of the Environment already have a set of reports from the International Council of Scientific Unions published as "The International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme : a Study of Global Change", and another set is on order for the department's library.
West end Scheme, Bradford
Mr. Cryer : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether any city grant has been approved for 3Ds Ltd., for the west end scheme in Bradford ; whether all the published criteria have been met for the application ; and if he will make a statement ; (2) whether any second application for city grant has been made or is pending from 3Ds Ltd. for any further extension of the west end scheme in Bradford.
Mr. Key : No city grant has yet been approved. The first phase of the development is still under discussion with 3D Ltd., and further details have been requested from it prior to proceeding to full appraisal. No details are available about further applications arising from this current proposal.
UN Environment Conference
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether any British civil servants have been seconded to work at the secretariat of the United Nations conference on environment and development Rio 92 office in Conches, Switzerland.
Mr. Baldry : In January my Department seconded an official to the United Nations conference on environment and development secretariat and he has been appointed senior programme officer. We are also supporting a British United Nations volunteer who will be working for the secretariat later this year.
Ministers' Cars
Mr. Cryer : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether particular cars or cars from a pool are allocated to Ministers ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Yeo : For security reasons, it would not be appropriate to provide information about the use by Ministers of Government car service vehicles.
Column 519
Planning Permission
Mr. Onslow : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek to amend article 18 of the Town and Country Planning General Development Order 1988 so as to require local planning authorities to consult the National Rivers Authority on the availability of adequate water resources before granting planning permission for any development that is assessed as being likely to lead to a significant increase in water consumption in the area concerned.
Sir George Young : My right hon. Friend has no present plans to do so, but he keeps the General Development Order under constant review and pays close attention to any comments or proposals which the National Rivers Authority may make to him.
In addition to the existing statutory consultation requirements in article 18 of the General Development Order, the National Rivers Authority is already a consultee under the environmental assessment regulations. Local planning authorities also consult the National Rivers Authority on a non- statutory basis in preparing development plans and about planning applications which have implications for flood defence and land drainage ; the Department's circular 17/82, which deals with these matters, is under review.
Local Government (Standing Orders)
Mr. Robert G. Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will announce his conclusions as a result of the consultation exercise on the implementation of sections 8 and 20 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.
Mr. Portillo : My Department and the Welsh Office have very carefully considered the comments received on the report produced by the joint local/central government working group on the implementation of sections 8 and 20 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, which provides powers for the Secretary of State for the Environment and the Secretary of State for Wales to require local authorities to adopt standing orders regulating the appointment and discipline of staff and various procedural matters. The Government have decided to implement only standing orders which will serve to underpin the independence of local authority chief officers. The consideration of any further action must await the conclusions of the general review of local government.
My Department will, therefore, be consulting the English and Welsh local authority associations on the content of draft regulations and the timing of their implementation, which would provide for compulsory standing orders on the appointment and dismissal of chief officers.
The proposals would require procedural safeguards on appointment, including a certificate from the monitoring officer, appointed under section 5 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, and discipline, including the introduction of an independent person to ensure that unreasonable disciplinary action is not taken. These measures are essential to enable chief officers to continue to serve local authorities with maximum effectiveness.
On the procedural questions which were proposed to be covered by the compulsory standing orders we have also
Column 520
concluded that, in present circumstances, we should not impose new rules. The local authority associations will however also be consulted on a number of minor matters concerning procedural standing orders with a view to addressing certain ambiguities in the existing legislation on council procedures.Wath Recycling
Mr. Hardy : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information has been reported to him of the results of visits paid to the premises of Wath Recycling by officials of the South Yorkshire hazardous waste unit since June 1989.
Mr. Trippier [holding answer 21 May 1991] : I have received regular progress reports about the Department's liaison with the South Yorkshire hazardous waste unit over that unit's monitoring of the site and about various options for dealing with the waste. But this has not required detailed reports on specific visits by the unit which has the regulatory responsibility.
Drinking Water (Lead Levels)
Mr. Cousins : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the lead levels in drinking water supplied by each undertaking in the Northumbrian Water Authority area ; what action is being taken to reduce lead levels in drinking water in the Northumbrian Water Authority area ; and how many tests on lead levels in drinking water of the Northumbrian Water Authority area have been made and how many are proposed to be made in 1991-92.
Mr. Baldry [holding answer 21 May 1991] : The public registers kept by all water companies contain details of lead levels in drinking water and the number of samples taken. The number of samples to be taken is set by the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 1989 and depends on the results of previous analysis of samples, and either the volume of water distributed for domestic purposes in a water supply zone or the population supplied in the zone. All water companies in England and Wales are carrying out surveys to establish whether there is a risk that lead levels in drinking water will exceed the standard set in the regulations of 50 micrograms per litre after it has left the company's pipes. The surveys should be completed in June and companies will then decide what measures, if any, they need to take.
Unleaded Petrol
Mr. Ken Hargreaves : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the report on his Department's survey into motorists' attitudes to the use of unleaded petrol will become available.
Mr. Baldry : The report, entitled "Survey of barriers against further uptake of unleaded petrol", was published today and a copy has been placed in the Library of the House. The findings of the report are being considered by my Department.
Column 521
SCOTLAND
AIDS
Mr. Galbraith : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the Government's financial assistance to voluntary bodies dealing with AIDS in Scotland.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : In respect of 1991-92 The Scottish Office has so far offered financial assistance to AIDS voluntary bodies in Scotland totalling approximately £108,000. Health boards may also provide assistance to such bodies in respect of services provided in their areas from their AIDS allocations, which total over £17 million in 1991-92.
Mr. Strang : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the AIDS unit allocations made to each of the three host health boards in (a) cash and (b) constant prices for 1990-91 and 1991-92, respectively.
Mr. Michael Forsyth [holding answer 10 May 1991] : The following table shows, at cash prices, the allocations made in 1990-91 to Lothian, Greater Glasgow and Tayside health boards in respect of their AIDS units. It also shows these amounts adjusted to 1991-92 prices using the GDP deflator.
Allocations made in 1991-92 in respect of the revenue costs of the units have been subsumed in the general AIDS allocations made to the boards concerned. A capital allocation of £542,000 has been made to Lothian health board in 1991-92 in respect of its unit.
£ thousands
Health board |Cash prices |Adjusted to
|1990-91 |1991-92 prices
-------------------------------------------------------------
Lothian
Capital |1,310
Revenue |2,560
|-----
|3,870 |4,141
Greater Glasgow
Capital |260
Revenue |1,550
|-----
|1,810 |1,937
Tayside
Capital |-
Revenue |1,380
|-----
|1,380 |1,477
Mr. Strang : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the allocations for HIV-AIDS treatment care and prevention to each of the Scottish health boards in (a) cash and (b) constant prices for 1990-91 and 1991-92 respectively.
Mr. Michael Forsyth [holding answer 10 May 1991] : The table shows AIDS allocations made to health boards in respect of 1990-91 and 1991 -92 at cash prices and adjusted to 1991-92 prices using the GDP deflator.
A revised method has been applied for the allocation of AIDS resources in 1991-92. It is based mainly on the estimated care and treatment costs of people with HIV and AIDS in each health board area ; but it also makes provision for expenditure on non-care and non-treatment activities (eg local HIV prevention initiatives) ; and it provides that the estimated revenue and, where appropriate, capital costs of the AIDS special units
Column 522
operated by Greater Glasgow, Lothian and Tayside health boards are met in full. It has the effect of directing the bulk of available resources to those health boards which are carrying the heaviest burdens arising from HIV and AIDS.
Health board |Cash prices |Adjusted to
|1991-92
|prices
|£ thousands|£ thousands
----------------------------------------------------------------
Argyll and Clyde
1990-91 |565 |605
1991-92 |503 |503
Ayrshire and Arran
1990-91 |445 |476
1991-92 |424 |424
Borders
1990-91 |131 |140
1991-92 |134 |134
Dumfries and Galloway
1990-91 |216 |231
1991-92 |203 |203
Fife
1990-91 |412 |441
1991-92 |418 |418
Forth Valley
1990-91 |387 |414
1991-92 |402 |402
Grampian
1990-91 |731 |782
1991-92 |598 |598
Greater Glasgow
1990-91<1> |3,757 |4,020
1991-92 |3,959 |3,959
Highland
1990-91 |310 |332
1991-92 |262 |262
Lanarkshire
1990-91 |657 |703
1991-92 |595 |595
Lothian
1990-91<1> |5,096 |5,453
1991-92<1> |7,706 |7,706
Orkney
1990-91 |24 |26
1991-92 |25 |25
Shetland
1990-91 |28 |30
1991-92 |29 |29
Tayside
1990-91 |2,101 |2,248
1991-92 |2,361 |2,361
Western Isles
1990-91 |42 |45
1991-92 |42 |42
<1> Includes capital provision in respect of AIDS unit.
Legionnaire's Disease
Mr. Wray : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when his Department first learnt of the outbreak of Legionella resulting from contaminated water supplies in Greater Glasgow health board premises.
Column 523
Mr. Michael Forsyth : Legionellosis became a notifiable disease in Scotland on 1 October 1988. Since that date Greater Glasgow health board have informed the Scottish Office Home and Health Department on the occasion of any outbreak.Mr. Wray : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which hospitals have been affected by the Legionella outbreak in the Greater Glasgow area.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : During 1990 the Glasgow Royal Infirmary and the Glasgow Western Infirmary both recorded cases of Legionnaire's disease. There are currently no outbreaks in the Greater Glasgow health board area.
Mr. Wray : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps have been taken to avoid further outbreaks of Legionella in Glasgow health board premises.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : There is an ongoing programme of water systems disinfection, maintenance and upgrading throughout Greater Glasgow health board's premises along with a programme of reserch into the proliferation of the legionellae becterium. Over the past two years £0.25 million has been spent on these measures and an allocation of £0.5 million has been made for 1991-92 to continue the programme.
Mr. Wray : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many isolates of Legionella species have been found in the water supplies of Greater Glasgow health board premises.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : Since 1 October 1988 Legionella pneumophila serogroups 1 and 6 have been isolated from the water systems in Greater Glasgow health board's premises.
Mr. Wray : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when was the last case of water contaminated by Legionella species detected in the greater Glasgow area.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : Legionellaceae, the family of Legionella bacteria survive and multiply in water. It is widespread in natural fresh water including rivers and ponds, and may also be found in wet soil. There is a strong likelihood of very low concentrations of the bacterium existing in all open water systems, including hospital water systems, at almost any time.
In the main, through the control of water temperature, appropriate disinfection and avoidance of water stagnation, the proliferation of the bacterium can be satisfactorily contained.
Currently, there is no outbreak of legionnaire's disease in health board premises in the Greater Glasgow area.
Scottish Institute of Adult and Continuing Education
Mr. Worthington : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what financial contribution he has made to the Scottish Institute of Adult and Continuing Education in each year since 1979, at 1990-91 prices.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : The information is as follows :
|Grant
Year |(at 1990-91
|prices)
|£
------------------------------------
1979-80 |18,075
1980-81 |17,796
1981-82 |25,494
1982-83 |30,462
1983-84 |36,519
1984-85 |36,821
1985-86 |37,568
1986-87 |35,414
1987-88 |33,621
1988-89 |32,070
1989-90 |30,148
1990-91 |41,000
1991-92 |39,253
Sites of Special Scientific Interest
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if the Forestry Commission will adopt a policy of offering sites of special scientific interest in its ownership which are considered for privatisation on a first refusal basis to nature conservation or heritage organisations.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : The Forestry Commission has had such a policy since its programme of land sales began in 1981. Details of the arrangements followed are set out in appendix IX, paragraphs 15-17, of the Commission's 1989-90 annual report.
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the Forestry Commission's policy towards land which is designated as a site of special scientific interest.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : It has long been the Forestry Commission's policy to agree plans with the Nature Conservancy Council and its successor bodies for the management of sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs) on commission land and to consult with them over all grant-aid and felling applications affecting SSSIs on privately-owned land.
Nurses (Appeals)
Dr. Godman : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many nurses in (a) the Argyll and Clyde health board, (b) Strathclyde and (c) Scotland as a whole had regrading appeals outstanding at 31 March.
Mr. Michael Forsyth [holding answer 21 May 1991] : Information on the number of nurse clinical grading appeals outstanding at 31 March at health board level is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The information at Scottish appeals committee level and at negotiating council level is given in the following table.
|Scottish |Negotiating
|appeals |council
|committee
------------------------------------------------------------------
Argyll and Clyde health board |148 |17
Strathclyde<1> |684 |43
Scotland |1,861 |83
<1>Argyll and Clyde, Ayrshire and Arran, Greater Glasgow and
Lanarkshire health boards and Glasgow and West of Scotland
blood transfusion service.
Column 525
Audiology
Mrs. Ray Michie : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what training programmes exist for physical measurement technicians in audiology ; how many places are annually available ; what budget is provided for the training currently and for each year since 1979 ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Michael Forsyth [Holding answer 21 May 1991] : The training of physiological measurement technicians in audiology involves mainly in-service training, with further education colleges providing the necessary external input. The trainees are salaried. Information on individual health boards' training programmes, and their current and previous budgets since 1979 is not held centrally.
Mrs. Ray Michie : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what is the average waiting list for (a) children under 16 years, (b) adults and (c) pensioners to obtain hearing assessments ; and if he will make a statement ;
(2) what is the average waiting time for the supply of hearing aids to (a) children under 16 years, (b) adults and (c) pensioners ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Michael Forsyth [Holding answer 21 May 1991] : The information requested is not held centrally.
DEFENCE
Polaris
Mr. Andrew F. Bennett : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will obtain a copy of the report published by Greenpeace entitled "Bring Polaris Home" for his Department's library ; (2) if he will make a statement on his response to the report by Greenpeace entitled "Bring Polaris Home", a copy of which has been sent to him.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The Ministry of Defence has received a number of copies of the report by Greenpeace entitled "Bring Polaris Home", one of which has been passed to the Department's library. Our resolution class Polaris submarines, like all our other nuclear-powered submarines, have been subject to a programme of inspections, set in hand as a prudent precautionary measure following the discovery of a technical defect in one of the Royal Navy's hunter-killer submarines. As I have indicated to the House before-- Official Report, 8 February 1991, columns 264-65, our nuclear submarines operate, and are maintained, in accordance with rigorous safety standards and with the endorsement of the nuclear-powered warships safety committee. The Ministry of Defence attaches the greatest importance to nuclear safety and we would not allow any submarine to go to sea if we considered it unsafe to do so. Our intention remains to keep resolution class submarines in operation until they are replaced by the Vanguard class Trident force.
Mr. Cryer : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the repair and maintenance programme for Polaris nuclear submarines ; and whether work is proceeding on developing remedial work on the nuclear reactors which will avoid radiation dosages to workers.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : Details of the repair and maintenance programme for Polaris nuclear submarines
Column 526
are classified. Radiation exposures are authorised only to the extent that they are justified, that they are within departmental and statutory limits, and that they are as low as reasonably practicable. They are kept under continuous review.Radiation Exposure
Mr. Andrew F. Bennett : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measures are being taken to ensure that radiation exposure of personnel undertaking nuclear safety inspections and repairs to operational Resolution class submarines at the Clyde submarine base have been as low as is reasonably possible.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : All practicable measures are being taken to ensure that occupational exposure to ionising radiation throughout the Ministry of Defence, including Clyde submarine base, is as low as reasonably practicable. In the case of those so exposed as a result of tasks being carried out on nuclear submarines, such measures may include decontamination, shielding, work sharing and modification to procedures, as appropriate and depending upon the particular tasks involved.
Mr. Andrew F. Bennett : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many additional personnel have been employed to carry out nuclear safety inspections and repairs to operational Resolution class submarines over the last 18 months ;
(2) what has been the cost of repairs to operational Resolution class submarines over the last 18 months ;
(3) what has been the cost of nuclear safety inspections to operational Resolution class submarines over the last 18 months.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : It is not our practice to comment on details of submarine refit, repair or maintenance programmes.
Mr. Andrew F. Bennett : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 1 May, Official Report, column 256, if he will make a statement on the factors underlying the higher figures for the Clyde submarine base, as set out in his letter to the hon. Member for Denton and Reddish.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : The increase in radiation dose figures for the Clyde submarine base for 1990 over those for previous years is due to a fluctuation in the workload. Although levels of individual dose are higher, all doses are within the statutory limits.
Air Crash, Cardigan Bay
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish details of the incident involving a pilotless aircraft which crashed on land near his Department's range on Cardigan bay at about 1800 hours on 14 May ; whether his Department has launched an inquiry into the cause of the incident ; and if he will publish its results.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : A Jindivik unmanned aircraft crashed on its approach to the Defence Research Agency's Llanbedr airfield following a routine operational sortie. Debris resulting from the crash hit a car occupied by two people, one of whom sustained superficial injuries. A local board of inquiry has been set up by the aerospace division of the Defence Research Agency, the results of which will be published in the form of a military aircraft accident summary in due course.
| Next Section
| Home Page |