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Mr. Wilshire : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment arising from the planning application dated 12 September 1989 by John Mowlem and Co. plc. to extend the runway at London city airport (a) if he has now received the report of the inspector who conducted the public inquiry and (b) when he expects to be able to announce his decision.
Mr. Yeo : The inspector delivered on 14 June his report of the public inquiry into two applications relating to the London City airport. One application to vary the conditions of a permission granted on 23 May 1985 was submitted on 12 September 1989. The second application to carry out development of the runway was submitted on 15 December 1989. My consideration of the report will be completed when I have taken careful account of all relevant matters.
Refugees
Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to provide a per capita per refugee revenue support grant for receiving local authorities.
Mr. Key : There are currently no such plans.
Waveney District Council
Mr. David Porter : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to be able to report his Department's findings into the way Waveney district council assigned its buildings cleaning work contract to its own direct services organisation in March this year ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Key : I am currently considering the response of Waveney district council to my Department's inquiries
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about its building cleaning work contract. A decision on whether the Secretary of State should use his powers of sanction under part I of the Local Government Act 1988 will be taken shortly. I shall write to my hon. Friend again at that time.3Ds Ltd.
Mr. Cryer : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the application by 3Ds Ltd. for £5 million city grant has been considered ; whether all the information required has been provided ; whether the identify of all shareholders in 3Ds Ltd. has been ascertained ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Key : The first phase of 3Ds proposed development is still under discussion and further information is still awaited before a full appraisal of the project can be undertaken. The identity of the shareholders in 3D Ltd. has been ascertained.
Sites of Special Scientific Interest
Mr. Wilson : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to introduce an advisory committee on sites of special scientific interest in England.
Housing Improvement Grant
Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what evidence he has of hardship caused to applicants for housing improvement grants under the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 by virtue of (i) the allowance of the notional housing premium for applicants with substantial housing costs being beyond what they can afford and (ii) the lack of an unearned income disregard affecting applicants with small occupational pensions.
Mr. Yeo [holding answer 21 June 1990] : We have received a number of representations from grant applicants and others on these matters and will be considering them as part of our review of the new grant system later this year.
SOCIAL SECURITY
Lone Parents (Benefits)
5. Mr. Favell : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the current level of spending on benefits for lone parents.
Mr. Newton : In 1990-91 expenditure on income-related benefits for lone parent families was approximately £3.4 billion.
National Insurance
15. Mr. Harry Greenway : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the weekly additional cost to a married man with a non-working wife and three children earning £26, 000 a year of the abolition of the national insurance upper earnings limit.
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Mr. Scott : If the upper earnings limit for national insurance contributions were removed, a married man earning £26,000 a year would have to pay about £10 a week extra in contributions.20. Mr. Norris : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the impact on a person earning £35,000 per annum, of the removal of the national insurance contributions upper earnings limit.
Mr. Scott : If the upper earnings limit for national insurance contributions were removed, a person earning £35,000 a year would pay an extra £1,324.80 a year in contributions ; that is over £25 a week.
Mr. Robert Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what recent representations he has received about the national insurance upper earnings limit.
Mr. Scott : It remains the Government's intention to retain the national insurance upper earnings limit and we have received no recent representations about it.
Child Benefit
16. Mr. Harris : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what will be the impact on a typical family with two children of the last two increases in child benefit.
Mr. Jack : This year's increases mean that such a family will see their weekly tax-free income from child benefit rise by over 15 per cent. from £14.50 to £16.75.
Child Support Agency
17. Mr. Alexander : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many new jobs are likely to be created as a result of the establishment of the Child Support Agency.
Mr. Jack : We anticipate that the proposed Child Support Agency, which becomes operational from April 1993, is likely to create around 2,200 new jobs across the country.
The majority of these jobs will be located in Belfast, Birkenhead, Dudley, Falkirk, Hastings and Plymouth. Each of the designated locations for these offices will provide around 500 administrative jobs. It is hoped that the majority of these job opportunities can be filled locally.
19. Mr. French : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if any estimate has been made of the potential reduction in spending on benefits for lone parents as a result of maintenance orders following the establishment of the Child Support Agency.
25. Sir Robert McCrindle : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether any estimate has been made of the possible reduction in spending on benefits for lone parents as a result of improved assessment and enforcement of maintenance orders following the establishment of the Child Support Agency.
Mr. Jack : We expect spending on benefits to be about £400 million a year lower as a consequence of the full establishment of the Child Support Agency.
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Family Credit
18. Mrs. Margaret Ewing : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the current length of time which elapses between receipt of application for family credit and a decision being reached in cases affecting (a) employed and (b) self-employed applicants.
Mr. Jack : In May 1991, the average clearance time for family credit claims was 17.7 days for employed cases and 31.5 days for self-employed cases.
Pensioner Premium
21. Mr. Gregory : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners are estimated to have benefited from increases in the pensioner premium in income support.
Miss Widdecombe : Since October 1989 nearly 1.5 million pensioner claimants have gained directly from increases in income support premiums. And this takes no account of the millions who have benefited because improvements in income support levels have increased their entitlement to housing benefit and community charge benefit. We have added some£300 million to pensioner premiums over and above normal upratings in less than two years.
Healthy Diets
22. Dr. Kim Howells : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the measures his Department has taken to ensure that families on social security can pay for a healthy diet.
Miss Widdecombe : The Government do not prescribe what proportion of benefit should be spent on any particular budgetary item, but the social security reforms have made it possible to channel extra help to the most vulnerable groups. Compared with the pre-1988 position, the resources made available to families with children through income related benefits have risen by around £ billion a year in real terms.
Personal Pensions
23. Mr. Peter Bottomley : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the total value of the reduction in pension contributions to a man on average earnings with a personal pension if the 2 per cent. special incentive were withdrawn.
Miss Widdecombe : Based on average full-time male earnings of about £16,000 per year, the total amount of national insurance contributions payable in the year 1991-92 would be £3,745. The total amount payable from the national insurance fund to an appropriate personal pension scheme would be £1,037. Withdrawing the 2 per cent. incentive would reduce this by approximately £266.
26. Sir Bernard Braine : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has received about personal pensions.
Miss Widdecombe : We have received a number of representations about various aspects of personal pensions.
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Local Offices
24. Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much has been spent in London social security offices during the past 12 months on facilities for clients.
Miss Widdecombe : In the financial year 1990-91 £3.5 million was spent on capital refurbishment projects at 30 offices in the London area. Of this amount £1.8 million can be clearly identified as specifically for client facilities. The balance of £1.7 million was on schemes involving both client and staff areas.
Liable Relatives Officers
27. Mr. Grist : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the work of his Department's liable relatives officers.
Mr. Jack : Liable relative officers work within the current maintenance system to obtain maintenance for people claiming income support so that people are not unnecessarily dependent on income support because someone who can afford to pay maintenance fails to do so. We have carried out a wide-ranging review of the whole system of maintenance for children, and the Child Support Bill now before Parliament contains proposals for a new child maintenance system. Under the new system, assessment of maintenance for children will be by a standard formula. In addition, there will be a Child Support Agency dedicated to the assessment, collection and enforcement of child maintenance. The agency's services will be available to all parents bringing up children where maintenance is an issue.
Young People
Mr. Patchett : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he has received a copy of the recent report published by the Coalition on Young People on Social Security.
Mr. Scott : I have received a copy of the report by the Coalition on Young People and Social Security. I do not consider that the restoration of general entitlement to benefit for 16 and 17-year-olds recommended by the report is the right solution. However I shall be looking at the report's findings carefully, together with the Department's own research, to ensure that the most vulnerable young people receive the best possible service.
Performance Indicators
Mr. Battle : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what performance indicators are published for his Department.
Mr. Jack : A wide range of performance indicators are published in the DSS departmental report (cm 1514) most notably in tables 40, 41 and 42.
In addition each of the Department's agencies include performance targets, covering their most important activities, in their business plans. Targets are typically set for service delivery and for a range of financial indicators. Copies of the departmental report and the business plans are in the Library.
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HOUSE OF COMMONS
Sittings
35. Mr. Favell : To ask the Lord President of the Council how many representations on hon. Members' hours have been received from hon. Members' spouses.
EC Proposals
40. Mr. Peter Bottomley : To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will make a statement on the parliamentary procedures for debate and scrutiny of EC proposals.
Mr. MacGregor : The changes leading to the present scrutiny procedures were debated on 28 June 1990, 24 October 1990 and 22 January 1991. The Government are committed to carrying out a full review of the procedures at the end of this parliamentary Session. In addition, I keep the arrangements constantly under review and I have recently tabled a proposal to deal with one technical point that has arisen from the operation of the European Standing Committees.
Regional Sittings
Mr. Hind : To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will bring forward proposals to permit the House of Commons to meet in Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds and Edinburgh ; and if he will make a statement.
Ibbs Report
Sir Gerard Vaughan : To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will list the several outbuildings to the precincts of the Palace of Westminster showing who is in charge of each building and what changes in these arrangements will follow from the Ibbs report.
Mr. MacGregor : The following House of Commons outbuildings form part of the parliamentary estate :
Number 1 Canon Row
Norman Shaw (North) and (South)
St. Stephen's House
Number 1 Parliament street
Number 1 Derby Gate
Number 3 Dean's Yard
Number 6-7 Old Palace Yard
Number 2 the Abbey Garden
In addition, Palace Chambers and Nos. 1 and 2 Bridge street are either vacant or occupied temporarily pending redevelopment as part of phase II of the new parliamentary building project.
No. 1 The Abbey gardens is occupied by the House of Lords. Accommodation in these buildings is managed by the respective House authorities with works services being undertaken by the DOE Property Holdings, parliamentary works organisation. Implementation of the Ibbs report will transfer responsibility for the latter to the Houses.
Energy Conservation
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Lord President of the Council what plans he has to maximise energy conservation and efficiency in the House during the current year.
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Mr. MacGregor : Energy conservation work is treated both as a specific task and as integral part of both the maintenance of the fabric of the buildings and services on the parliamentary estate and the design of new facilities. During the year the coverage of the building energy management system will be extended, further energy efficient lighting will be installed, another major step in the modernisation of the heating system will be completed and other minor work will be carried out as the opportunity arises.Staff of the parliamentary works office have a continuing brief to draw the attention of energy liaison officers where lighting is left on repeatedly, and security staff are asked to switch off lighting in empty rooms. It is, of course, incumbent upon all occupants of the parliamentary buildings to adopt a commonsense approach to the use of lighting and other energy consuming equipment.
Library
Mr. John Marshall : To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will list the books offered by a Member of the House in the last month for inclusion in the Library.
Mr. MacGregor : Members who are authors often present a signed copy of their book to the Library for its special collection. From time to time Members also offer books to the Library written by authors other than themselves. It is not, however, Library practice to reveal the names of Members who present books in this way without the agreement, in each case, of the Member concerned.
Millbank
Mr. Michael : To ask the Lord President of the Council what progress he has been able to achieve on improving safety for hon. and right hon. Members crossing Millbank to and from their offices.
Mr. MacGregor : I have little to add to the information I gave the hon. Member on 11 February last. Both Houses and Westminster city council have agreed to the installation of an additional island refuge outside the entrance to the Lords' car park. They are all agreed,
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however, that it would be impracticable to install an extra pedestrian crossing between those at the south-east corner of Parliament square and at Great College street.DEFENCE
Civil Aircraft Notification Procedure
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what procedures exist for the reporting and recording of breaches by military aircraft of areas notified under the civil notification procedure, other than those incidents in which an air miss was reported.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : Complaints made to my Department relating to civil aircraft notification procedures, other than air miss reports, would be handled in the same way as other complaints about military low flying.
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the number of notifications made under the civil aircraft notification procedure in each year since 1979.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : Records are not available for notifications made under the civil aircraft notification procedure before August 1983. The number of notifications since then is as follows :
Year |Number --------------------- 1983 |<1>775 1984 |5,976 1985 |7,183 1986 |4,598 1987 |4,604 1988 |3,213 1989 |548 1990 |412 1991 |<2>51 Notes: <1>Figure is for August to December inclusive. <2>Figure is for January to May inclusive.
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the dates and locations of all air misses since 1979 in which a military aircraft breached an area notified under the civil aircraft notification procedure.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : Following is the information requested :
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Date |Location |Aircraft involved
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5 March 1980 |15 NM<1> E of York |Starfighter/Schweizer AG-Cat
29 September 1980 |7 NM S of Pitlochry |Buccaneer/Lama SA315B
22 September 1981 |21 NM N of Dundee |Buccaneer/Lama SA315B
15 April 1982 |5.5 NM NE of Leconfield |Lightning/Schweizer AG-Cat
23 February 1983 |Foulsham Airfield |Caberra/Schweizer AG-Cat
14 June 1984 |4 NM SW of Eshott |Jaguar/Sioux Trooper
15 January 1985 (11.35 am) |18 NM SW of Wick |Harrier/Hiller 360 UH12E
15 January 1985 (12.15 am) |18 NM SW of Wick |Untraced military aircraft/Hiller 360 UH12E
25 February 1985 |11 NM NE of Cottesmore |Untraced military aircraft/Pawnee
12 April 1988 |5 NM N of Dalwhinnie |Buccaneer/Hughes 500
13 April 1988 |4 NM SW of Newtonmore |F16/Hughes 500
15 April 1988 |5 NM S of Newtonmore |Hunter/Jet Ranger
11 October 1988 |1 NM W of Fort William |Tornado/Jet Ranger
<1>NM-Nautical mile.
Low Flying
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the number of booked low-flying movements at less than 250 ft over the United Kingdom in each year since 1979, broken down by aircraft type.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : I refer the hon. Member to my Department's evidence to the recent inquiry by the Select Committee on Defence (HC 120/90, page 141) and to the written answers to the hon. Member for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley (Mr. Foulkes) on 19 December 1990 at column 208 and to the hon. Member for Leyton (Mr. Cohen) on 8 March 1991 at column 332.
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the flow control regulations in the United Kingdom low-flying system apply to traffic at all altitudes within the system.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : Yes, except for some helicopter operations and above certain flowed valleys.
The Gulf
Mr. Trotter : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects that the official board of inquiry into the incident in which British soldiers in Iraq were killed by friendly fire will be completed.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : I have nothing to add to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Winchester (Mr. Browne) on 19 June at column 226.
Grenadier Guardsmen (Accident)
Mr. Winnick : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many documents requested by the solicitor acting for Guardsmen Povey, Hicks and Ray have been (a) withheld and (b) withheld in part ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : None of the documents which the solicitors have requested has been withheld. Their outstanding request for the 1984, 1985 and 1989 editions of the Batus range standing orders will be met if they are still available.
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Mr. Winnick : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many special socks have been provided to Guardsmen Povey, Hicks and Ray ; and if he will make it his policy to supply such special socks free on demand.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health will reply shortly.
Charter Technologies (Liquidation)
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has had from Muras, Baker, Jones and Co., liquidators of Charter Technologies.
Submarines
Mrs. Ray Michie : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the operation of the scheme under which the Royal Navy notifies details of planned activity by submerged submarines in the inner Clyde.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The Clyde submarine movements notification scheme was introduced on 17 December 1990. Under this scheme the Royal Navy gives notice of the sea areas and times of planned submerged submarine activity in the inner Clyde. The information is broadcast by the Clyde coastguard every four hours on VHF and is also available by telephone from the operations room at the Clyde submarine base. Local fishermen have also undertaken to inform the Navy in advance of those times and locations when fishing activity is expected to be heavier than usual. The scheme does not preclude fishing in notified areas, but alerts fishermen to those areas where dived submarine activity may occur. The operation of the scheme has been monitored closely since its introduction and I believe it is working well and has achieved a worth while improvement in fishing vessel and submarine safety in the areas covered. In the light of this, I have agreed that from 1 July the scheme will be expanded to cover all Clyde submarine exercise areas lying either wholly or partly within the United Kingdom 12- mile limit. The ranges at Rona and Raasay are also to be included in the notification arrangements.
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