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council estates. They give a fresh impetus to local authorities to work closely with the private sector, to involve their tenants, and to strive continually for the highest standards of management.Montreal Protocol
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement regarding the current United Kingdom position in the Montreal protocol negotiations.
Mr. Baldry : The negotiations towards the 1992 revision of the Montreal protocol will begin in April 1992. The United Kingdom has first to reach agreement with other European member states. In view of the latest scientific findings on ozone depletion, the United Kingdom has proposed that the European Community position for the international negotiations should be : production and consumption of all CFCs and carbon tetrachloride to be phased out by 1 January 1996, with an interim cut of 85 per cent. by1 January 1994 ; 1, 1, 1 trichloroethane to go by 1 January 1996, with a 50 per cent. cut by 1 January 1994 ; halons by 1 January 1995, with an interim cut of 50 per cent. by 1 January 1994. These phase-out dates, which would have a provision for essential uses, are the fastest which could be implemented internationally.
Local Government Finance
Mr. Steinberg : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the indicators for standard spending assessments and the grant for each indicator for (a) the city of Durham and (b) Hove council for 1991 -92.
Mr. Key : A description of the indictors used in the calculation of standard spending assessments for all authorities for 1991-92 is contained in "The Revenue Support Grant Distribution (Amendment) Report (England)". A breakdown of SSAs by indicator for all authorities including Hove and the City of Durham is given in the "Standard Spending Assessment Handbook 1991- 92". Copies of both these documents are in the House of Commons Library.
Global Warming
Mrs. Gorman : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions of competing theories of global warming have taken in the European Council of Ministers.
Mr. Baldry : The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is the principal international forum for discussion of the science of climate change. The conclusions of the EC joint Energy/Environment Council meeting in October 1990 referring to the forthcoming second world climate conference recorded the Council's wish that "the concern of the IPCC about the increase of greenhouse gas emissions from human activities, resulting on average in additional global warming', be recognised."
The IPCC will be producing a supplementary report for the international negotiating committee for a framework convention on climate change in February 1992.
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the most recent scientific advice on climate change due to emission of carbon dioxide ; what data he has received via satellites ; and if he will make a statement.
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Mr. Baldry : The scientific assessment of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change published last year, copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House, remains the most complete and authoritative statement of scientific advice available. The IPCC is currently preparing a supplementary report to be presented to the international negotiating committee on a climate convention in February next year. This will take into account information produced since the first scientific assessment including data from instruments on Earth observation satellites.Mrs. Gorman : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information and data his Department receives from satellites regarding the greenhouse effect.
Mr. Baldry : Information from satellite data studies was included in the scientific assessment of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change published last year, copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House. New findings from satellite programmes will be included in the supplementary report that the IPCC will submit to the international negotiating committee on a climate convention next February. The Department commissioned a study on data requirements for climate change research which gives details of existing and proposed satellite missions, the instruments carried and the scientific questions to which they would contribute. I have arranged for copies of the report to be placed in the Library of the House.
Waste Disposal
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he intends to give directions under section 50 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to require waste disposal authorities to draw up waste disposal plans ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Baldry : The Government have stated in their consultation paper on the Environment Agency issued on 3 October--copies of which have been placed in the Library--that they do not consider there would be a role for area-based waste disposal plans when the agency is set up. The Government are reviewing the need for waste regulation authorities to draw up waste disposal plans in the interim period before the agency is set up.
Local Income Tax
Mr. William Powell : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table showing the level of income tax supplement which would be required to be levied by each local authority in Northamptonshire to raise the local revenue required for 1991-92 local authority budgets under a system of local income tax, taking into account variations in the tax base between local authority areas.
Mr. Key : The level of bills in a particular local authority area with a local income tax, would depend on the precise way in which such a system were introduced.
Waste Management
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what effect the formation of an environment agency will have on the timetable for the introduction of
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waste management licences ; when he expects an environment agency to be operational ; and if he will make a statement.Mr. Baldry : The Government's proposals for the new Environment Agency are set out in the consultation paper issued on 3 October, copies of which have been placed in the Library. We hope to introduce a Bill early in a new Parliament and our aim is that the agency should be operational as soon as possible following Royal Assent. The Government recognise that the timing of the waste licensing provisions of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, due to come into force on 1 April 1993, may need to be reviewed in the light of the emerging timetable for the new agency.
Radioactive Waste
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what studies have been requested from the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee since the terms of reference governing the remit of the committee were changed in July this year ; and if he has yet received any of the studies requested.
Mr. Baldry : I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State for the Environment and Countryside to the hon. Member for Harrow, West (Mr. Hughes) on 19 November 1991, Official Report, column 102.
National Rivers Authority
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he last met the chairman or officials of the National Rivers Authority to discuss the proposals for an environment agency.
Mr. Baldry : We are in regular touch with the National Rivers Authority on a range of issues. The NRA has recently put forward its views on the Government's proposals for the Environment Agency. We shall consider these carefully alongside all other responses to our consultation paper, which was issued in October.
Housing Associations
Mr. O'Hara : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many housing associations have expressed an interest in acting as agents for mortgage lenders under his Department's joint initiative on repossessed properties of 5 November ;
(2) how many repossessed homes have been brought into use for letting to homeless families through housing association management agreements under his Department's joint initiative with mortgage lenders of 5 November.
Mr. Yeo : It is too early for any such properties to have been transferred, but an encouraging 77 housing asssociations have expressed interest in the initiative.
UN Environment Conference
Mr. Sillars : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what women's non-governmental organisations are to be included in the United Kingdom delegation to the United Nations conference on environment and development in 1992.
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Mr. Baldry : The Prime Minister has indicated that he hopes to attend the United Nations conference on environment and development. No decision has been taken on the composition of the rest of the British delegation.Housing, Waveney
Mr. David Porter : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement indicating the Government schemes and other measures available to Waveney district council to increase and improve the housing stock in Waveney.
Mr. Yeo : Government schemes and other measures available to Waveney district council to increase and improve housing stock in its district include the use of basic credit approval, specified capital grant and capital receipts as specified together with housing revenue to maintain and improve the council housing stock, assist housing associations and provide grants to improve private homes. There is also scope to obtain supplementary credit approval under the initiatives for rural housing and flats over shops. The council may promote a scheme to provide council tenants with "portable discounts" to help buy their own homes and they can operate both shared ownership and "do-it-yourself" shared ownership schemes. By providing council-owned land free, or at reduced price, to housing associations, the council can encourage the inflow of Housing Corporation funds for the provision of more social housing, which can also be promoted by negotiation with private developers seeking to build in the district.
Small Cetaceans
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much has been spent or allocated to research projects undertaken by his Department on the status and conservation of small cetaceans for 1990-91, 1991-92 and 1992-93.
Mr. Baldry : The Department has allocated funds as follows :
Year |£ ------------------------ 1990-91 |111,869 1991-92 |43,840 1992-93 |61,896
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the research projects undertaken by his Department on the status and conservation of small cetaceans and specify in each case the amount allocated, the duration of the project, and the body or institution conducting that work.
Mr. Baldry : Last year this Department, as part of its programme of North sea research, initiated three extra-mural projects in this area : a one-year study on contaminants in small cetaceans in England and Wales, to be carried out by the sea mammal research unit of the Natural Environment Research Council at a total cost of £58,626 ; a small cetaceans sighting and monitoring scheme, undertaken by the United Kingdom Mammal Society Cetacean Group for two years at a total cost of £24,000 ; and the three-year appointment of a veterinary pathologist at the Institute of Zoology to co-ordinate the
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investigation of marine mammal strandings in England and Wales, at a total cost of £86,000. A number of other bodies are involved in these contracts or are contributing practical assistance, including the Natural History museum and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.In addition, we expect in the near future to complete arrangements for the appointment of a parallel co-ordinator, to investigate strandings in Scotland.
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what work has been undertaken by his Department to investigate the level of contaminants in small cetacean carcases retrieved in the United Kingdom ; what budget has been allocated to this work for each of the years 1990, 1991 and 1992 ; and which body or institution is conducting the work.
Mr. Baldry : The sea mammal research unit of the Natural Environment Research Council was commissioned last year by this Department to carry out a programme of contaminant analysis on cetaceans found stranded around our shores in 1990 and 1991. A total of £58,680 was allocated to this work in the 1990-91 financial year.
World Climate Conference
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if his Department plans to be represented at the third world climate conference, organised by the Global Commons Institute in London on 13 to 16 April 1992.
Mr. Baldry : The second world climate conference in November 1990 was organised by UNEP, WMO, UNESCO, FAO and several other United Nations and intergovernmental organisations. We are aware of the event proposed for April 1992 by this non-governmental group, but have not received an invitation to attend.
Young People (Care)
Mr. Fearn : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what funding his Department provides to local authorities specifically to house young people stepping out from care.
Mr. Yeo : The bulk of capital resources for local authority housing is distributed through a single housing investment programme allocation. The allocation of resources to particular areas of activity is mainly a matter for authorities themselves, although their duties under the homelessness legislation cover vulnerable young people. The Housing Corporation allocates resources to housing associations, who are now the main providers of new social housing. In 1990-91 the corporation spent £4.7 million on new housing schemes for young people at risk, including those leaving care. For 1991-92 the corporation has allocated £13.6 million, a 190 per cent. increase.
Poll Tax Enforcement
Mr. Nellist : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 9 December, Official Report, column 316, if he will arrange to place in the Library the minutes of the meetings of the local taxation working party at which the use of bailiffs in poll tax enforcement was discussed.
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Mr. Key : No.Estate Action
Mr. O'Brien : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the names of the successful estates in West Yorkshire who qualify for improvements under the 1992-93 estate action programme ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Yeo : The following local authorities in West Yorkshire have today been invited to work up bids for estate action resources as part of the 1992-93 programme :
Local Authority and Estate
Bradford--Holmewood.
Kirklees--Brackenhall/Riddings.
Leeds--Ebor Gardens, Halton Moor.
Calderdale--Ashenhurst, Elland.
Wakefield--Simpson Lane, Kershaw Avenue.
Renewable Energy
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what arrangements he has made to publicise and distribute in England and Wales the guidance note recently published on the planning considerations deemed to govern applications for renewable energy generating stations.
Mr. Yeo : I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn) on 13 December, Official Report, column 554.
Community Charge
Mr. Meacher : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received about claimants on income support who are in arrears of community charge payments being dealt with by bailiffs rather than by direct deductions from their income support ; if he will issue new guidance urgently to local authorities to advise them to use direct deductions from benefit wherever possible rather than to send in the bailiffs ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Portillo : I have had numerous representations on the enforcement of the community charge payment. It is for local authorities to decide which is the most appropriate method of enforcement to pursue within the powers available to them.
Planning Inquiries (Costs)
Mr. Gerald Bowden : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now implement the provisions of section 30 of the Planning and Compensation Act 1991.
Mr. Yeo : Section 30 of the Planning and Compensation Act 1991 enables appeals costs to be awarded, in an inquiry or hearing, where the unreasonable behaviour of one of the principal parties causes the cancellation of the inquiry or hearing, so that other parties incur wasted expenditure in making their preparations to be represented in the proceedings. These provisions are to be brought into force from 2 January 1992.
To complement these provisions we shall also bring into force provisions, which are already in the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, enabling appeals costs to be awarded in appeal "hearing" cases, as well as inquiries.
The practical effect of these changes, and the various planning proceedings to which they apply, are fully
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explained in a new circular issued today by my Department and the Welsh Office. The draft guidance in this circular was recently the subject of public consultation involving a wide range of interested bodies.We think these new cost arrangements should bring an increased sense of discipline to planning appeal proceedings. In the past, it has sometimes been too easy for a developer to maintain a planning appeal right up to the last moment, before an inquiry was due to begin, only to withdraw it without any liability to meet the wasted expense inevitably incurred by the planning authority and other interested appeal parties. These new provisions will help to deter any developers who may continue to think they can get away with such unreasonable behaviour.
Unauthorised Development
Mr. Ian Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now issue revised policy guidance to local planning authorities about effective enforcement action against unauthorised development, in accordance with the Planning and Compensation Act 1991.
Sir George Young : We have carefully considered the comments of all the organisations who were consulted about the draft planning policy guidance note I announced on 24 July, Official Report, column 667. PPG 18, entitled "Enforcing Planning Control", is being issued today. The new guidance emphasises that the Government do not condone any wilful breach of planning control ; and they encourage vigorous enforcement action where unauthorised development is plainly unacceptable and immediate remedial action is required. The guidance also suggests what factors planning authorities should normally take into account when they are considering whether enforcement action is expedient for small businesses or self- employed people.
The main enforcement provisions in part I of the Planning and Compensation Act 1991 are being brought into force on 2 January 1992. A Department of the Environment and Welsh Office circular, which is also being published today, gives procedural guidance to planning authorities about the new provisions.
During parliamentary debates on the Planning and Compensation Bill earlier this year serious concern was expressed about the weakness of the present enforcement provisions. The strengthened and improved regime, now being brought into force, should enable every planning authority to take quick and effective enforcement action whenever it is justified.
Hedgerows
Mr. Speller : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what financial assistance is available to help landowners retain hedgerows in situ.
Mr. Baldry [holding answer 13 December 1991] : In England assistance is available towards the cost of hedgerow management under grant schemes for wider purposes administered by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the Countryside Commission and English Nature.
In July I announced our intention to provide new incentives to promote improved care of hedgerows in ways which are environmentally beneficial. At present we are
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discussing the terms of the proposed scheme with the Countryside Commission and others, and will make a further statement in the new year.Local Authority Powers
Mr. O'Brien : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he intends to extend the powers of local authorities, under section 16 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous) Provisions Act 1976, to obtain information other than issues connected with land ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Key [holding answer 13 December 1991] : The Government have no plans to extend the powers available to local authorities under section 16.
Sports Clubs (Rates)
Mr. Pendry : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 5 November, Official Report, column 17, if he will publish a table showing for 1990-91 (a) the total number of applications for relief from non-profit making sports clubs (survey entry B(b)1), (b) the total number of sports clubs receiving relief after submitting an application (survey entry B(b)2), (c) the total number of sports clubs receiving relief without submitting an application (survey entry B(b)3) and (d) the total number of sports clubs denied relief after submitting an application.
Mr. Key [holding answer 13 December 1991] : The departmental survey to which my previous answer referred collected information about non -profit making recreational clubs ; not only sports clubs. The table shows information for 1990-91, based on the returns received from 81 per cent. of local authorities.
|Number
----------------------------------------------------------------------
(a) Number of applications received |10,000
(b) Number of clubs receiving relief after applying |9,000
(c) Number of clubs receiving relief without applying |1,300
(d) Number of clubs not receiving relief after applying |1,000
These figures may not sum with those shown in my previous answer because of rounding.
Public Conveniences
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Cardiff, Central (Mr. Grist) Official Report, 11 November column 395, he will (a) update his statement on the number of pennies received under the send-a-penny campaign to improve public conveniences and (b) state how he intends to spend the moneys received to date.
Mr. Key [holding answer 13 December 1991] : No more pennies have been received. These are extra receipts payable to the Consolidated Fund.
Standard Spending Assessments
Mr. Lewis : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is the provisional level of total spend per adult at standard spending assessment in 1991-92 for (a) Wandsworth, (b) Westminster and (c) each of the 10 district authorities of Greater Manchester ;
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(2) what has been the total spend per adult at standard spending assessment in 1990-91 for (a) Wandsworth, (b) Westminster and (c) each district authority in Greater Manchester.Mr. Key [holding answer 13 December 1991] : A standard spending assessment represents the Government's view of the appropriate amount of revenue expenditure which would enable a prudent authority to provide a standard level of service, taking into account its physical, social and demographic characteristics.
The SSAs for 1990-91 and 1991-92 expressed in £s per adult for all inner London boroughs and districts in Greater Manchester are given in the table.
|1991-92 SSA|1990-91 SSA
|(£ /adult)|(£ /adult)
-----------------------------------------------------------
Camden |1,403 |1,166
Greenwich |1,191 |986
Hackney |1,920 |1,569
Hammersmith and Fulham |1,335 |1,118
Islington |1,551 |1,267
Kensington and Chelsea |1,178 |1,192
Lambeth |1,718 |1,392
Lewisham |1,295 |1,019
Southwark |1,455 |1,171
Tower Hamlets |1,872 |1,591
Wandsworth |1,262 |982
Westminster |1,548 |1,276
Bolton |970 |816
Bury |823 |681
Manchester |1,448 |1,170
Oldham |1,055 |879
Rochdale |1,024 |809
Salford |1,019 |855
Stockport |816 |678
Tameside |913 |730
Trafford |916 |754
Wigan |857 |716
Advertising Expenditure
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras (Mr. Dobson), Official Report, 8 November, column 308, he will set out the reasons for the increased level of expenditure on advertising by his Department in 1989-90.
Mr. Heseltine : The increase in my Department's expenditure on advertising in 1989-90 arose mainly from campaigns to provide information to the public about the flotation of the 10 water companies in England and Wales, new legislation on local government finance and housing and to encourage the use of lead-free petrol.
WALES
EC Projects
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the total amount of money in pounds sterling allocated to projects in Wales by the European Community in 1990 and to date in 1991.
Mr. David Hunt : Allocations of European regional development fund and European social fund money to projects in Wales in 1990 and 1991 are as follows :
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|ERDF|ESF
-----------------------
1990 |27.5|10.8
<1>1991 |64.3|13.3
<1> To date.
Farming Statistics
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish figures showing the average per farm management and investment income, net farm income
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inclusive and exclusive of breeding livestock appreciation, and percentage changes by farm type and size for 1990 and 1991 in Wales.Mr. David Hunt : Management and investment income and net farm income per farm for 1990-91 are due to be published after Christmas. The latest available information relates to 1987-88 and 1988-89 and is as follows :
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Management and Net farm income Net farm income
investment income (including BLSA) (excluding BLSA)
(£ '000) (£ '000) (£ '000)
Type of farming |Size of |1987-88 |1988-89 |Per cent. |1987-88 |1988-89 |Per cent. |1987-88 |1988-89 |Per cent.
|business |change |change |change
|(BSU)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dairy:
Specialist |All sizes |9.5 |13.5 |43.0 |17.0 |25.0 |46.7 |17.0 |21.0 |25.7
Mainly |All sizes |10.5 |13.0 |25.8 |18.5 |24.5 |31.8 |17.5 |20.5 |17.3
All dairy:
|Small |2.0 |2.4 |13.1 |10.0 |12.5 |28.8 |9.5 |10.0 |5.7
|Medium |9.5 |14.0 |45.0 |17.5 |25.5 |45.1 |17.0 |22.0 |27.6
|Large |35.5 |48.0 |34.9 |43.5 |64.5 |48.4 |42.0 |54.5 |30.1
|All sizes |10.0 |13.5 |37.9 |17.5 |25.0 |42.4 |17.0 |21.0 |23.4
Hill and upland:
SDA
Sheep |All sizes |4.5 |9.0 |99.5 |12.5 |18.0 |46.2 |10.5 |15.0 |42.4
Cattle and sheep |All sizes |6.0 |9.5 |55.2 |15.0 |20.0 |34.2 |12.5 |16.5 |29.2
DA
Cattle and sheep |All sizes |.1 |4.0 |5,274.0 |7.0 |12.5 |69.0 |6.5 |10.5 |61.0
LFA livestock
|Small |-2.0 |.1 |5.0 |4.5 |-3.8 |4.0 |6.5 |66.0
|Medium |8.5 |12.5 |46.8 |17.0 |23.0 |36.2 |15.0 |19.0 |28.5
|Large |31.0 |48.5 |56.8 |42.0 |60.5 |43.4 |37.0 |54.0 |45.2
|All sizes |4.0 |8.0 |105.6 |11.5 |17.0 |45.7 |10.0 |14.0 |40.8
All dairy and livestock
|Small |-1.5 |.5 |5.5 |9.0 |45.7 |5.0 |7.0 |45.7
|Medium |9.0 |12.5 |42.8 |17.0 |23.5 |38.0 |15.5 |19.5 |26.1
|Large |33.5 |48.5 |45.0 |43.0 |46.0 |8.1 |39.5 |54.5 |37.2
|All sizes |5.0 |9.0 |72.8 |13.0 |19.0 |45.2 |12.0 |16.0 |33.4
Notes:
Income figures are shown to the first decimal place and rounded to the nearest five.
Percentage changes are however worked on unrounded figures.
Emissions
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will publish information on the per capita emissions of (a) agricultural CH , (b) non-agricultural CH , (c) CO from land use change and (d) CO from industrial usage ;
(2) if he will publish information on the gross emissions in Wales of (a) agricultural CH , (b) non-agricultural CH , (c) CO from land use change and (d) CO from industrial usage.
Mr. David Hunt : Figures specifically relating to Wales of CH (methane) and CO emission levels are not available. However, United Kingdom figures can be found in the Department of Environment publication "Digest of Environmental Protection and Water Statistics" No. 13 1990.
The latest published data on United Kingdom emissions of both gases relate to 1989. Based on an estimated current United Kingdom population of 55 million, the following estimates can be calculated :
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United Kingdom emissions (Gross)
|(Thousand |Per capita
|tonnes) |kg
----------------------------------------------------------------
Agricultural methane |1.16 |21.1
Non-agricultural methane |2.29 |41.6
|(Million
|tonnes) |tonnes
CO2 from industrial usage |101 |1.840
CO2 from agricultural usage<1> |1 |0.018
<1>No specific figure is available for land use change.
Valleys Programme
Dr. Kim Howells : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the expenditure to date under the valleys programme, by category of expenditure and by year, in constant prices, for the Cynon Valley borough council area, the Taff Ely council area and the Rhymney Valley council area.
Mr. David Hunt : The information requested is not available except at disproportionate cost.
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South Glamorgan TEC
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the chairman of the South Glamorgan training and enterprise council concerning the expenditure undertaken to adopt, launch, promote and subsequently abandon its logo and title of ETCETERA ; and if he will make a statement.
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