| Previous Section | Home Page |
Housing Estates, Bradford
Mr. Cryer : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the sources and amounts of grant aid for the current financial year allocated to Buttershaw, Bierley and Woodside housing estates in Bradford, South ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Yeo [holding answer 24 June 1991] : As part of its draft urban programme for 1991-92 Bradford metropolitan district council sought approval for two projects on these estates ; £10,459 for a skills audit of Buttershaw estate and £22,154 for environmental works on Bierley estate. Both were approved. In addition, Bradford received a total housing investment programme allocation for 1991-92 of £13.37 million.
DEFENCE
Tornado
Mr. Mans : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on improvements to the Tornado F3 radar.
Mr. Alan Clark : Certain features of the second stage of the Foxhunter radar programme, together with other improvements, have already been introduced into those Tornado F3s deployed to the Gulf. We have now decided to add these improvements to the second stage of the radar programme, so that they can be extended to all Tornado F3 squadrons.
Mr. Mans : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on the Tornado F3 aircraft.
Mr. Alan Clark : We have decided not to proceed with the weapon system upgrade of the Tornado F3. We are confident that even without it the aircraft will continue to give effective service well into the next century. We anticipate that from the end of the present decade the European fighter aircraft will begin to complement the Tornado F3, thus providing a powerful reinforcement to the air defence capability of the Royal Air Force.
Officers
Mr. William Powell : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the net reduction, actual and percentage, in serving officers in each rank (a) in the
Column 507
Royal Navy of captain and above, (b) in the Army of colonel and above and (c) in the Royal Air Force of wing commander and above since 1 July 1990.Mr. Archie Hamilton : The total number of officers, by rank, serving at 1 July 1990 and at 31 March 1991, together with the change in number and percentage change between the two dates, is set out in the table. These figures include augmented appointments to NATO.
|1 July |31 March |Change |Change
|1990 |1991 |Number |Per cent.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Royal Navy
Admiral |5 |6 |1 |20.0
Vice Admiral |12 |14 |2 |16.7
Rear Admiral |35 |36 |1 |2.9
Commodore |33 |37 |4 |12.1
Captain |363 |349 |-14 |-3.9
Royal Marines
Lt. General |1 |1 |0 |0.0
Major General |4 |3 |-1 |-25.0
Brigadier |3 |4 |1 |33.3
Colonel/Lt. Colonel |30 |27 |-3 |-10.0
Army
General |9 |9 |0 |0.0
Lt. General |9 |11 |2 |22.2
Major General |64 |62 |-2 |-3.1
Brigadier |229 |240 |11 |4.8
Colonel |656 |653 |-3 |-0.5
Royal Air Force
Marshall of the RAF 1 1 0 0.0
Air Chief Marshall |5 |5 |0 |0.0
Air Marshall |9 |10 |1 |11.1
Air Vice Marshall |39 |45 |6 |15.4
Air Commodore |122 |122 |0 |0.0
Group Captain |429 |438 |9 |2.1
Wing Commander |1,406 |1,407 |1 |0.1
Submarines
Mr. Andrew F. Bennett : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what is the estimated cost of removal of a decommissioned nuclear submarine reactor compartment from the submarine ;
(2) what is the annual estimated cost of storage afloat of each of the submarines HMS Conqueror, HMS Churchill and HMS Warspite ; (3) what has been the annual cost of storage afloat of the submarine HMS Dreadnought for each of the years it has been stored at Rosyth ;
(4) what is the estimated cost of preparing each of the submarines HMS Conqueror, HMS Churchill and HMS Warspite for storing afloat.
Mr. Alan Clark : This information is commercially confidential.
Mr. Andrew F. Bennett : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total cost of preparing HMS Dreadnought for storage afloat.
Mr. Alan Clark : This work was carried out a number of years ago. The information requested, insofar as it may be available, could be assembled only at disproportionate cost.
Column 508
Unexploded Ammunition
Mr. Sayeed : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list by place and date the occasions on which buried unexploded ammunition has been found outside the impact or target areas of live firing ranges in the last five years.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : Information is not held in the form requested.
Magnetic Treatment Facility
Mr. Fishburn : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the magnetic treatment facility.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : We have decided not to proceed with the contract with Dowty Defence and Air Systems Ltd. for the design and construction of a magnetic treatment facility at Faslane. Recent design studies suggest that a more cost-effective and less environmentally obtrusive means of meeting the requirement should be available. The decision to cancel the contract in no way reflects on the standard of performance of the company or its subcontractors. It will not affect the programme for the deployment of the Trident submarine.
RAF Wildenrath and Gutersloh
Mr. O'Neill : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether any United Kingdom dependants employed at RAF Wildenrath and RAF Gutersloh have been employed for more than two years.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : A total of 460 dependants are employed at RAF Wildenrath and RAF Gutersloh, of whom 82 have served more than two years.
Mr. O'Neill : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to issue notices of dismissal to United Kingdom dependants employed at RAF Wildenrath and RAF Gutersloh.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : Notices of dismissal will be issued to dependant employees at least two months prior to the dates on which their posts are no longer required. Wherever possible the dates of dismissal will be linked to the posting dates of spouses-parents. The first notices of dismissal are expected to be issued to some of the employees at RAF Wildenrath in January 1992.
Spare Parts
Mr. O'Neill : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 18 June, Official Report, column 143, whether the level of spare parts required is determined by his Department or by NATO.
Mr. Alan Clark : Spares holdings are determined by MOD, although NATO guidance may be taken into account.
Rapid Reaction Force
Mr. O'Neill : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has yet made a decision on the size of the British contribution to the rapid reaction force.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : Work to determine precise national contributions to NATO's future rapid reaction forces is continuing.
Column 509
Residential Property
Sir John Stanley : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the qualifying criteria for payment of injurious affection compensation referred to in his reply to the right hon. Member for Tonbridge and Malling on 3 June, Official Report, column 132.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The criteria are as follows :
1. Departmental approval to the introduction of a noise compensation scheme at the airfield.
2. Exposure of the individual dwelling to noise levels of at least 83dBLAeq 12 hours.
Sir John Stanley : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the qualifying criteria for the acquisition of dwellings referred to in his reply to the right hon. Member for Tonbridge and Malling on 3 June, Official Report, column 132.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The criteria are as follows :
1. Departmental approval to the introduction of a noise compensation scheme at the airfield.
2. New public works, for example, runway extension or strengthening, which, when brought into use, have physical effects ; in these cases, noise.
3. The district valuer is satisfied that such effects have adversely affected property values.
4. The claimant's interest in the dwelling satisfies the qualifying conditions prescribed in the Land Compensation Act 1973, which the Ministry of Defence follows administratively.
5. The claim is submitted within the prescribed period.
AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD
Imported Birds
Mr. Morley : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the number of imported birds which died during the period of quarantine and which were subsequently analysed by the veterinary investigations service for each year since 1987.
Mr. Maclean : The number of captive birds dying in quarantine or in transit and subsequently submitted to veterinary investigation centres for examination were as follows :
|Number
-------------------------
1987 |4,268
1988 |3,791
<1>1989-90 |9,073
<1>1990-91 |8,146
<1> April-March years.
Source: Veterinary
Investigation Service.
Mr. Morley : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will indicate the most common causes of death to imported wild birds (a) during transit and (b) during the 35-day quarantine period.
Mr. Maclean : The most common cause of death in imported captive birds is considered to be stress associated with malnutrition, dehydration, adverse environmental conditions and enteropathies. The other main specific causes of death recorded for the years 1987 to 1989 were salmonellosis, psittacosis, mycotic pneumonia and colisepticaemia.
Carcasses of imported birds are examined at veterinary investigation centres for evidence of infectious diseases
Column 510
which could spread to the national poultry flock, and the records do not differentiate between birds dying in transit or in quarantine.Mr. Morley : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has sought the advice of the Civil Aviation Authority concerning the transit of wild-caught birds ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Maclean : The Department has held discussions with representatives of the CAA concerning the preparation of guidance to airline operators on the transport of animals, including wild-caught birds. I have also written personally to the airlines emphasising my concern about this trade and stressing the need to observe the International Air Transport Association's rules on the carriage of animals.
I am concerned that all who are involved in any way with this trade should do everything possible to reduce the problems which have been shown to occur, particularly in relation to the mortality of certain species.
Mr. Summerson : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what consideration has been given to increase the existing 35-day period of quarantine for imported birds ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Maclean : The 35-day period of post-import quarantine for imported birds provides the necessary level of protection against the introduction of Newcastle disease, avian influenza and other exotic avian diseases, and there is no scientific justification for extending this period.
Flood Warnings
Mrs. Ray Michie : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what assistance is given by the Government for the provision of early flood warnings around the River Thames ; what is the cost of providing warnings ; what form such warnings take ; and if he will make a statement ;
(2) what statutory requirements are in operation to provide advance public warning of flooding around the United Kingdom coast ; if he will list those places which have a standard advance public flood warning system in operation ; what form these systems take ; what funding is provided for this purpose ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Curry : Under section 32 of the Land Drainage Act 1976 (as amended by paragraphs 1 and 14 of schedule 15 to the Water Act 1989), the National Rivers Authority (NRA) is empowered to provide and operate flood warning systems in England and Wales.
Under section 92 of the 1976 Act (as amended by schedule 17 to the Local Government Act 1985 and by paragraph 1 of schedule 15 to the Water Act 1989) my right hon. Friend, the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is empowered to make grants to the NRA towards the cost of flood warning systems. In the 1990-91 financial year these grant payments totalled about £55,000.
The authority has made arrangements for flood forecasting and warning covering both river and coastal areas. Weather forecasts, weather radar, rainfall and tidal levels are monitored in order to detect possible flooding incidents. Information about possible surge tides from the storm tide warning service based at the meteorological office, Bracknell is also used in assessing the risk of coastal flooding.
Column 511
This Department is responsible for funding the storm tide warning service, and in the 1990-91 financial year about £400,000 was spent on this service, which produces primary warnings based on estimates of surge tides at a series of specific reference ports. Detailed warnings for vulnerable points along the coast are given by the NRA drawing on expert knowledge of local conditions to interpret the information from the storm tide warning service.The NRA issues flood warning notices to the police who are responsible for deciding when the public should be warned, and local contingency plans for flooding will, if necessary, be initiated. These plans which are worked out by the NRA in conjunction with the police, local authority emergency planning officers, port authorities and others, cover the form that warnings will take (eg sirens, announcements on local radio, etc.).
The River Thames area is covered by the arrangements outlined above. Surge forecasts are particularly useful in assessing when the Thames barrier should be closed to prevent possible flooding of London from the sea but the cost is not recorded separately by the Department.
Nor do we have any information on the overall costs of providing public flood warnings.
Separate arrangements apply in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Bananas
Mr. John P. Smith : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he intends to take to ensure that preferential arrangements remain after 1992 to maintain the current United Kingdom- Caribbean trade in bananas.
Mr. Curry : I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley (Mr. Foulkes) on 19 June 1991, at columns 194-95.
Dioxins in Milk
Mr. Hind : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what studies are being carried out on the levels of dioxins in milk.
Mr. Gummer : Over the last year my Department has been carrying out a general surveillance programme for dioxins in food in a range of urban and rural areas. The results, which relate to milk collected at farms, wholesale and retail stages, will be presented to the study group on the chemical aspects of food surveillance later this year and scrutinised by independent expert committees. They will then be published in the usual way together with the committees' recommendations.
Sophisticated techniques which have been developed recently in the Department's food science laboratory at Norwich have for the last year made it possible to detect dioxins at minute levels. As milk tends to show up airborne contaminants, it is a particularly useful and sensitive product to test in a programme designed to protect the public. Dioxins are of course widespread in the environment, and as could be expected, traces of them have been found in all the samples tested. Last year an international meeting under the auspices of the World Heath Organisation European region recommended a tolerable daily intake for dioxins of 0.01 nanogrammes per kilogram body weight per day. From this, scientific and
Column 512
medical experts in this Department and the Department of Health have calculated a maximum tolerable concentration of 0.7 nanogrames per kilogram of milk, if the tolerable daily intake is not to be exceeded. Their advice is that action should be taken to prevent the direct consumption of milk if it contains a higher concentration of dioxins.Samples have been taken at three stages, at the retail outlets, at the dairies, and on the farm. At the retail stage, no sample contained more than the normal background levels of dioxin and there is no risk to consumers. At the dairy stage the same applies : this provides further reassurance. Similarly most of the samples taken on farms do not reveal anything unusual.
However, on two farms in the Bolsover area of Derbyshire the levels were greater than the threshold set by this Department and the Department of Health. An extended survey has however indicated lower levels on all the other dairy farms in the vicinity. I am making the results available in the Library of the House. As to these two farms, milk sold is bulked with other milk in the milk tanker and at the dairy. Tests on milk from the dairy have shown normal background levels. Nevertheless it is best that milk from these farms not be mixed with other milk.
My officials have today visited the farmers concerned and we have told them and the milk marketing board about these results. The milk marketing board has concluded that the milk does not meet the conditions in its standard terms of sale for producers and it will not accept the milk into the food supply. I welcome this prompt action, which shows that the board is determined to uphold the highest quality standards.
At the same time, we cannot ignore the farmers whose livelihood has been milk production. There is no reason to think that they are in any way at fault and I have every sympathy with their predicament. My staff will give advice on the business and husbandry options that are open to them.
This Department will continue to carry out surveillance in the area and will undertake further detailed studies to learn more about the mechanism for the transmission of dioxins. I am determined that through our surveillance of the food supply we should ensure that fullest possible protection of the public.
Sea Fisheries Committees
Mr. Barry Field : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has any plans to change his proposals for the possible extension of SFC jurisdiction ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Curry : Yes. Following detailed consultations with all interested parties and after consideration of the views expressed, the Secretary of State for Wales and I have decided that, in order to enable sea fisheries committees to regulate those stocks, notably shellfish, which are predominantly fished within 0 to 6 mile belt, we are in principle ready to see the jurisdiction of SFCs extended to include waters out to six miles from United Kingdom baselines. It is now for SFCs and the constituent Councils to decide whether to seek extension of their jurisdiction.
If an SFC's jurisdiction is extended, its existing byelaws will continue to apply only within the 0 to 3 mile belt. Any new byelaws intended to apply in the 3-6 mile belt will be considered on their merits in the usual way.
Column 513
HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION
Ibbs Report
Sir Gerard Vaughan : To ask the hon. Member for Berwick upon Tweed, as representing the House of Commons Commission, what progress is being made with implementing the Ibbs report ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Beith : Following the generally favourable response of hon. Members in the "take note" debate in the House on 17 January, Official Report, columns 1046-84, the Commission has been making progress towards implementing the main recommendations in accordance, so far as possible, with the timetable proposed in Sir Robin Ibbs's report "House of Commons Services"--HC 38. Competitions for the new posts of Director of Finance and Administration, and Director of Works, have been organised with the assistance of appropriate management consultants. The new Director of Finance and Administration, Mr. James Rodda, currently director of finance and administration at the London Futures and Options Exchange, will assume the headship of the renamed Finance and Administration Department on
Column 514
Monday 1 July. The appointment of a new Director of Works within the Departmnent of the Serjeant at Arms will be announced shortly. Negotiations are in train for the transfer to the Commission of responsibility for the cost of printing, stationery and office supplies, currently accounted for by HMSO--class XVIII, vote 17 ; and for the Commons component of the parliamentary works budget, currently accounted for by the Department of the Environment--class VIII, vote 7. An announcement of the likely date of transfer of formal vote responsibility for these and other activities will be made in due course.Discussions are also in train to draw up appropriate draft standing orders for the new Select Committees which the Ibbs report proposes should replace the Select Committee on House of Commons (Services), and new terms of reference for the Board of Management. I understand that the authorities of the House of Lords are adapting their own procedures and administrative arrangements to keep in line with the implementation of the Ibbs report programme in this House. Other consequences of the recommendations in the Ibbs report are being implemented by the Commission as speedily as possible, although full account is being taken at every stage of the views and interests of other bodies and individuals concerned.
|
| Home Page |