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Tees and Hartlepool Port Authority

Mr. Devlin : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to announce his decision on the recommendation put to him by the board of Tees and Hartlepool port authority concerning the sale of its undertaking.

Mr. Rifkind : Under the provisions of the Ports Act 1991, it was for the THPA board to arrange for the sale of shares in its successor company and to recommend to me which bid should be preferred, having regard to the provisions of the Act and objectives of the sale which were agreed with me.

The agreed objectives included encouraging disposal to managers and staff of the whole or a substantial part of the equity share capital ; seeking best open market price


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subject to the other objectives ; continuing operation of the Port in ways which are beneficial to the local economy ; maintenance of a viable and competitive port operation ; maintenance of the port as a separate entity with day to day management and control located in Teesside ; use of THPA's assets for the development of the port business and for the promotion of developments which are locally beneficial.

My Department and its advisers kept closely in touch with the THPA board as it carried out the sale process. I am satisfied that the board discharged its responsibilities in a fair and proper manner. In particular, I am satisfied that it considered carefully each of the bids in relation to the agreed objectives of sale.

The key issues which the board included in its evaluation were : independence, long-term stability, benefit to the community, contribution to the port, credibility, acceptability, employee participation and price. Having thoroughly scrutinised all the bids, the THPA board concluded that the bid by Teesside Holdings Limited, although not the largest in monetary terms, was the most consistent with the authority's privatisation objectives and, taken overall, the most beneficial to the port, its employees and the Teesside community generally. As regards employee participation, the Teesside Holdings bid includes provision for 475,000 shares to be reserved for THPA employees, who will receive one free share for every share subscribed for--that is, 5 per cent. of the proposed equity share capital. Accordingly, the THPA board has recommended to me that its successor company should be sold to Teesside Holdings Limited.

I have considered the THPA recommendation carefully. In particular, I have noted that the price of £180 million offered by Teesside Holdings is at the top end of the range of an independent valuation carried out by THPA prior to the sale. I have also noted the THPA board's view that the Teesside Holdings' bid makes the most convincing plans for a prosperous and growing future for the port, including specific capital expenditure proposals. The bid is also considered to demonstrate the greatest commitment to the long-term development and stability of the authority's undertaking for the benefit of Teesside.

I am satisfied that the THPA board's recommendation best meets the agreed objectives of the sale. I have therefore written to the chairman of THPA to say that I am minded to give my formal consent to the sale of the authority's undertaking to Teesside Holdings Limited as soon as I am able to do so. This will be possible only after the scheme of transfer submitted by the authority under section 9(1) of the Ports Act 1991 and the order providing for a levy on disposals of land to be made under section 17 of the Act have come into effect. The latter is subject to an affirmative resolution of the House and is expected to be debated immediately after the Christmas recess.

RMS St. Helena

Ms. Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the operation and management of the RMS St. Helena with particular reference to the proposed working conditions of the officers and ratings.

Mr. McLoughlin : The working conditions of the officers and ratings of the RMS St. Helena are properly the concern of the managers--the St. Helena Shipping


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Company Limited. They are currently negotiating new terms in line with current practices throughout the shipping industry.

Small Firms

Sir David Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many schemes his Department runs to provide help or finance for small firms ; and if he will list them.

Mr. McLoughlin : The Department of Transport provides guidance on transport matters to any business requiring it, whatever its size. Such financial assistance as the Department provides to businesses, for example towards the costs of transporting goods by rail rather than by unsuitable roads, under section 8 of the Railways Act 1974, is available to eligible businesses whatever the size of the company.

The Department's procurement unit encourages small firms to supply the Department, mainly through the pamphlet "Selling to the Department of Transport". The Department selectively vets the suitability of individual companies in accordance with the Department's particular needs, not the size of the company.

Exeter Bypass

Mr. Maxwell-Hyslop : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects (a) Acer Consultants to deliver their report on a hypothetical Exeter northern bypass to his Department and (b) when he expects it to commence Ministerial consideration.

Mr. Chope [holding answer 12 December 1991] : I hope to receive the report on whether there is a need for a bypass to the north and west of Exeter in January 1992 and to give it consideration then.

M20 Widening

Sir John Stanley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he proposes to withdraw his 200 notification requirement on the planning authority for land charges searches in relation to properties between junctions 3 and 5 of the M20, following his announcement of the line of his Department's widening scheme.

Mr. Chope [holding answer 13 December 1991] : Pursuant to an agreement between themselves and the Law Society, local authorities will be required to reveal the existence of the proposals for widening M20 between junctions 3 and 5 in response to searches by prospective purchasers of properties within 200 m of the scheme until such time as the widening is implemented.

A27

Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will undertake to conduct a full environmental impact assessment of the proposed routes for improvement of the A27 ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Chope [holding answer 17 December 1991] : Public consultation is taking place at present on the Lewes-Polegate section of the A27. Consideration of the environmental effects of this road scheme has been a continuous process throughout the planning and design


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stages. An appraisal of environmental effects of all the A27 consultation routes is outlined in the consultation brochure and at the local consultation exhibitions. Further detailed environmental appraisal will be carried out as the proposals develop.

NATIONAL FINANCE

Spirits

Mr. Colvin : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the revenue yield to the Exchequer of duties and taxes on spirits in the last financial year.

Mr. Gillian Shephard : The revenue yield in 1990-91 was estimated to be £2.4 billion, of which duties accounted for £1.7 billion and VAT accounted for £0.7 billion.

Oil and Gas Production

Mr. Hardy : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the yield received by Her Majesty's Government from oil and from gas production in the United Kingdom in each year since 1979 both in terms of actual amounts and by current valuation.

Mr. Maude : Annual revenues to the Exchequer from the North sea, at current prices and at 1991-92 prices, have been as follows :


£ million                              

           |Current  |1991-92            

           |prices   |prices<1>          

-----------------------------------------

1979-80    |2,313    |5,349              

1980-81    |3,743    |7,305              

1981-82    |6,492    |11,564             

1982-83    |7,822    |13,007             

1983-84    |8,798    |13,973             

1984-85    |12,035   |18,197             

1985-86    |11,348   |16,276             

1986-87    |4,783    |6,630              

1987-88    |4,618    |6,076              

1988-89    |3,168    |3,880              

1989-90    |2,368    |2,729              

1990-91    |2,498    |2,673              

<2>1991-92 |1,200    |1,200              

<1> By reference to movements in the GDP 

market prices implied                    

deflator.                                

<2> Forecast.                            

Departmental Relocation

Mrs. Currie : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to relocate part of Her Majesty's Treasury out of central London.

Mr. Maples : The Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency--the Government centre for information systems--is part of HM Treasury and is currently located partly in central London and partly in Norwich. I have decided that, with the exception of a small London base, it should be wholly located in Norwich. The move will involve a little over 200 posts and will be phased over the next three years ; I expect the greater part to take place in 1993-94.

Business Investment

Mr. Nicholas Brown : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table giving business investment measured in current prices as a percentage of


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gross domestic product, measured in current prices for each year since 1974, including quarterly figures since 1988, and the average for periods 1974 to 1979 and 1979 to 1990.

Mr. Mellor [holding answer 16 December 1991] : The latest estimates are available on the CSO database which may be accessed through the House of Commons Library. Business investment is defined as private sector and public corporations gross domestic fixed capital formation, excluding purchases less sales of land and existing buildings and private sector investment in dwellings. The database identifier formula for business investment at current prices is DECR minus (GGAG DFHV AAUC AAUG DEET). The identifier for gross domestic product at current market prices is CAOB.

THE ARTS

Arts and Disability

Ms. Walley : To ask the Minister for the Arts when he received a copy of the Arts Council directory on arts and disability ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Renton : I received a copy of the arts and disability directory when it was issued by the Arts Council. I warmly welcome this initiative and commend the directory to individuals and organisations seeking information or wishing to extend their work in this important area of arts and disability.

ENVIRONMENT

Climate Change

Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has received a copy of the recent study entitled "The Potential Socio- Economic Effects of Climate Change", produced by the environmental change unit of Oxford University.

Mr. Baldry : Yes.

London Docklands Development Corporation

Ms. Gordon : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had with the London Docklands development corporation about provision of sporting and leisure facilities within the LDDC area.

Mr. Portillo : The promotion of facilities for sport and leisure forms part of the LDDC's agreed strategic aim to improve the social infrastructure of London docklands. The development programmes relating to this aim are set out in the 1991 corporate plan which I discussed with the corporation earlier this year.

Options for Change"

Mr. Bill Michie : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will provide funds for ex-service housing associations and other bodies to help meet the demand for additional houses from the service men and women leaving the armed forces as a result of "Options for Change".

Mr. Yeo : The Government are making available substantially increased resources for housing associations


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to provide for people in priority need. This programme will be of benefit to the generality of families in high need of subsidised rented housing, who may include some households leaving services accommodation.

Meadow Well Estate, North Shields

Mr. Nicholas Brown : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the projects and programmes that he has specifically targeted at the Meadow Well estate, North Shields, Tyne and Wear since 1979 ; and how he evaluates their outcome.

Mr. Yeo : The local targeting of expenditure under the urban programme and estate action is primarily the responsibility of the local authorities which bid for and deliver these programmes. Since 1979, the Department has funded an annual urban programme in North Tyneside, for expenditure on projects related to the defined inner area, which includes the Meadow Well estate. In 1988 an estate action scheme was approved for part of the north Meadow Well. The authority has very recently been given the go-ahead to work up estate action proposals to the rest of north Meadow Well.

In addition, the work of the Tyne and Wear development corporation includes activities of benefit to the Meadow Well estate. In each of these programmes the local authority, or the UDC respectively, are required to monitor projects, and sample monitoring of a selection of projects is carried out by the Department's regional office.

Waste Regulation

Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much was spent on advertising material to alert waste carriers to the requirement to register with waste regulation authorities ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Baldry : The Department of the Environment, in conjunction with the Scottish Office and the Welsh Office, issued a free explanatory leaflet entitled "If you carry waste, this will affect you". The cost of printing and distributing 250,000 copies of this leaflet was £17, 751. A further 100,000 copies are being printed, at a cost of £2,109.

Uniform Business Rate

Mr. Steen : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many appeals against assessment of uniform business rate for 1990-91 are awaiting completion ; if any extra staff have been employed to speed the progress of such appeals ; and when he expects all appeals against assessment of uniform business rate for 1990-91 to be completed.

Mr. Key : Ratepayers had six months from 1 April 1990 in which to make proposals to alter their 1990 rating assessments and valuation officers then had a further six months to settle the proposal before the matter became an appeal. Most proposals were not received as appeals to tribunals until the latter part of that financial year. At the end of September 1991, valuation and community charge tribunals in England had outstanding some 597,000 non-domestic rating appeals, following the


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clearance of 90,000. The tribunals have recruited extra staff and were provided with computer systems. Staffing levels are kept under review. The speed at which appeals are cleared is primarily a matter for the individual tribunals.

Small Firms

Sir David Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what aspects of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 will affect small firms ; and when the regulations will come into effect.

Mr. Trippier : Many aspects of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 will affect businesses, large and small ; They include : Part I

Integrated pollution control (applies to new processes and substantial changes to existing processes from1 April 1991 ; being phased in for existing processes over five years).

Local authority air pollution control (the final stage of introduction is 1 April 1992 ; parts were introduced on 1 April and 1 October 1991).

Part II

New and extended controls on waste management (the duty of care together with associated Regulations and a Code of Practice come into force on 1 April 1992 ; we propose to bring into force other measures governing the collection, treatment and disposal of waste and the waste management licensing system by April 1992).

Part III

Statutory nuisance including emissions from premises of dust, smell, effluvia, noise and non-dark smoke which are prejudicial to health or a nuisance ; improvement of existing legislation (came into force on 1 January 1991).

Part IV

Package of measures to deal with litter, including powers for local authorities to tackle litter problems caused by certain businesses (an order specifying types of firms affected came into effect on 1 July 1991).

Part V

Introduction of cost recovery for regulation of premises under the Radioactive Substances Act 1960 (started from 1 April 1991). Part VI

Genetically Modified Organisms (it is intended to make regulations that could come into force in 1992).

Part VIII

Miscellaneous ; including the introduction of licensing for dumping waste at sea within UK Continental Shelf Limits ; and, of greater relevance to small firms powers to make regulations prohibiting or restricting the importation, supply, use or storage of harmful substances or articles and to require their disposal, as well as to require manufacturers, importers or suppliers of chemicals specified in orders to provide information on their properties and use and to carry out testing to obtain such information.

The Department of the Environment has prepared a publication entitled "A Guide to the Environmental Protection Act 1990", which is available free to small firms and others.


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Environmental Research

Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list details, at 1991 prices, of expenditure by his Department on environmental research and protection for each available year since 1979 -80.


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Mr. Baldry : My Department's expenditure in 1991 prices on environmental research broken down by main policy areas since 1979-80 is as follows :


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£ million                                                                                                            

                 |Planning,       |Environmental   |Water           |Radioactive     |Total                            

                 |local government|protection                       |waste                                             

                 |and countryside                                                                                      

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1979-80          |12.4            |10.2            |6.1             |11.1            |39.7                             

1980-81          |10.7            |7.0             |8.6             |18.0            |44.2                             

1981-82          |9.0             |8.5             |6.5             |15.6            |39.7                             

1982-83          |6.7             |7.4             |5.9             |13.3            |33.3                             

1983-84          |4.8             |6.6             |5.7             |13.4            |30.5                             

1984-85          |4.6             |5.6             |5.0             |12.8            |27.9                             

1985-86          |5.5             |7.7             |4.6             |15.1            |32.9                             

1986-87          |4.7             |9.3             |4.6             |14.2            |32.8                             

1987-88          |4.5             |8.9             |4.8             |13.9            |32.0                             

1988-89          |4.7             |10.7            |7.0             |11.0            |33.5                             

1989-90          |4.0             |14.2            |9.8             |7.9             |35.9                             

1990-91          |4.9             |20.4            |4.5             |8.6             |38.4                             

Compiled figures for my Department's expenditure on environmental protection before 1985-86 are not readily available. Overall expenditure by my Department on environmental protection in 1991 prices from 1985-86 to 1990-91 is as follows. Details of this expenditure are given in figure 6, page 11 of the Department's 1991 annual report.


            |£ million            

------------------------------------

1985-86     |89.9                   

1986-87     |118.3                  

1987-88     |167.7                  

1988-89     |73.3                   

1989-90     |145.1                  

1990-91     |218.5                  

Development Plans

Mr. Robert G. Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will lay before Parliament the new regulations on development plan procedure ; and if he will make a statement.

Sir George Young : My right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for the Environment and for Wales today laid before Parliament the Town and Country Planning (Development Plan) Regulations 1991--SI 1991/2794. The Departments are also issuing today a circular describing the arrangements for handling the transition from the current development plans system to the new.

The regulations take account of the responses made to the proposals issued for consultation in September. Overall, the response to our proposals has been positive, with those responding welcoming the standardisation and rationalisation of the different arrangements currently applying to different types of plan. A list of the responses to the proposals, and to the consultation draft planning policy guidance issued at the same time, will be placed in the Library of the House ; copies of individual responses may be obtained through the Library.

All the responses have been carefully considered. As a result, we have made some changes to the published proposals. The main changes are :


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a new requirement for local authorities to have regard to environmental considerations in preparing their plans, and to indicate what regard they have had to such considerations ; English Nature, the Countryside Commission, the Countryside Council for Wales, English Heritage, the National Rivers Authority, and the Secretary of State for Transport to be added to the list of those who must be consulted by authorities on all plan proposals before they are put on deposit ; and

authorities to put on deposit, along with their plans, a statement of the publicity and consultation they have carried out in formulating their plan proposals. The statement should list those whom they have consulted, in addition to the prescribed consultees, and any steps they have taken to publicise their proposals and to provide an opportunity of making representations on them. A number of those responding expressed concern about our proposal to leave pre-deposit publicity and consultation to authorities' discretion, subject to the list of prescribed consultees. Clearly, authorities should ensure that there is adequate publicity for and consultation on their plan proposals before they are put on deposit, but rather than prescribing such an approach in regulations, we believe that it is right to let authorities use their judgment to determine what degree of publicity and consultation is appropriate. This will give authorities the flexibility to tailor their approach according to circumstances. For example, they may conclude that proposals for a new or replacement plan warrant much wider publicity and consultation than proposals for a relatively minor alteration to an existing plan.

Nevertheless, we intend to make it clear in guidance how important it is for authorities to give their plan proposals adequate publicity and to give people an adequate opportunity to comment. Authorities should also consult organisations with a particular interest in the proposals, including coservation and amenity groups and business, development and infrastructural interests. The knowledge that they will have to prepare a statement of publicity and consultation should encourage authorities to consider carefully those whom they will need to consult at the pre-deposit stage.

It is important that local people and other interested bodies should be able to let authorities know what they think of plan proposals from the earliest stages. In this way


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they can be fully involved in decisions about the pattern of development in their area. We shall keep the flexible approach to publicity and consultation under review to ensure that it is working satisfactorily. We shall remind authorities that the Secretary of State has reserve powers to direct an authority to carry out further public participation, which he will be prepared to use if he considers that to be necessary in any particular case.

Today's announcement represents another important step in the development of our planning system. The new development plans process, as part of a plan-led system, will require a positive and constructive approach by all those with interests in development and conservation. We hope all those concerned will rise to this challenge.

Coalite, Bolsover

Mr. Andrew MacKay : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the results of testing for dioxins in emissions from the Coalite works, Bolsover, carried out by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Pollution, will be available ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Baldry : Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution today released a report on its investigation into dioxins in emissions from the Coalite chemical works incinerator and the Coalite smokeless fuel plant.

The maximum emission of dioxins to atmosphere, calculated on the basis of the measurements made, from the stack on the Coalite Chemicals incinerator was 18 nanogram/m (toxic equivalent). The maximum measured emission of dioxins to atmosphere at Coalite Fuels was 1.2 nanogram/m (toxic equivalent)

Based on the maximum emission level recorded during the sampling, calculation of the atmospheric dispersion of dioxins from the two Coalite plants gives a maximum predicted concentration in air at groundlevel of 0.05 picogram/m and an associated rate of deposition of 0.0006 picogram/m /s. The calculation suggests that these air concentrations and deposition rates would occur in the vicinity of the farms that currently have restrictions placed upon their milk. The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has concluded from the results that such emissions from the Coalite Chemical incinerator would probably account for only a part of the dioxins which have been found in the milk on the affected farms. The atmospheric discharges from Coalite Fuels contribute only a few per cent. of the values reported.

Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Pollution is to test for dioxins in soil samples taken at various distances around the Coalite plants, to complement the work already being undertaken by MAFF. The work is expected to begin in the new year and will take six months to complete.

The incinerator at Coalite Chemicals was closed down by the company during November, to allow substantial modifications to it. When it has been redesigned it will be regulated by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Pollution under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, which requires control on releases to all media.

Deposit Refund Systems

Mr. Roger King : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to publish the study commissioned by the Departments of Trade and Industry and the Environment on the subject of deposit refund systems.


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Mr. Baldry : The study, carried out by the consultants Environmental Resources Limited, has been published today in a report entitled "Deposit Refund Systems for Beverage Containers and Batteries". Copies have been placed in the Library of the House. The report is available on sale from HMSO book shops.

The Government had indicated in the last year's environmental White Paper that this work would be undertaken. The report's finding are now being considered, and will be taken into account during the further formulation of the Government's waste minimisation and recycling policy. We would welcome any comments that interested parties may have on the report.

Halons

Mr. Andrew MacKay : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on the use of halons as fire-fighting chemicals in the United Kingdom ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Trippier : My Department considered a study, from C. S. Todd and Associates, on halon use in the United Kingdom, which is published today. A copy has been placed in the Library of the House. The report shows that consumption of halons has fallen by about 25 per cent. since 1986, and that most uses of halons, particularly in portable extinguishers, could be substituted now. It gives a clear indication to industry of the areas where more work is needed to find alternative means of fire protection.

Halons have a very high ozone depletion potential, and therefore we have proposed to other European member states that production and supply of virgin halon should be phased out by 1 January 1995, subject to provisions for essential uses, when we revise the Montreal protocol next year.

Environmental Assessment

Mr. Gerald Bowden : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will be replying to the European Commission's letter of 17 October 1991 alleging infraction of directive 85/337/EEC on environment assessment.

Mr. Heseltine : The United Kingdom responded on 17 December within the two months requested by the Commission.

Local Government Finance

Mr. Blunkett : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table showing for the years 1979-80 to 1991-92 for each service control total a comparison between actual local authority outturn expenditure and the relevant grant-related expenditure assessment or standard spending assessment.

Mr. Portillo [holding answer 12 December 1991] : The service expenditure control totals used in the rate support grant settlements from 1982-83 to 1989-90 are shown in the table. Information on expenditure control totals is not available for years prior to 1982-83.

It is not possible to construct comparable figures for outturn expenditure on the basis of the available returns from local authorities.

The standard spending assessment service control totals used in the 1990-91 and 1991-92 revenue support grant settlements together with budgeted expenditure by local authorities on these services are as follows :


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£ million                                                                                                                                                         

                                       1990-91                     1991-92                                                                                          

                                      |SSA control  |Expenditure  |SSA control  |Budgeted                                                                           

                                      |and                        |total        |expenditure                                                                        

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Education                             |14,753       |15,725       |17,137       |17,198                                                                             

Personal social services              |3,592        |4,119        |4,418        |4,521                                                                              

Police                                |2,125        |2,163        |2,342        |2,451                                                                              

Fire and civil defence                |877          |964          |1,021        |1,058                                                                              

Highway maintenance                   |1,578        |1,705        |1,786        |1,782                                                                              

All other services                    |4,502        |5,631        |5,933        |6,360                                                                              

Capital financing                     |2,380        |2,922        |2,951        |2,973                                                                              

                                      |-------------|-------------|-------------|-------------                                                                      

   Total revenue exenditure           |29,805       |33,229       |35,587       |36,345                                                                             

1982-83 to 1989-90 total grant related expenditure for the main groups of services                                                                                  

£ million                                                                                                                                                         

                                      |1982-83      |1983-84      |1984-85      |1985-86      |1986-87      |1987-88      |1988-89      |1989-90                    

1. Education, arts and libraries      |10,217       |10,349       |10,624       |11,093       |11,618       |12,576       |13,939       |14,354                     

2. Personal social                    |1,943        |2,085        |2,205        |2,366        |2,553        |2,756        |2,913        |3,269                      

3. Law and order                      |1,649        |1,785        |1,890        |2,008        |2,152        |2,363        |2,555        |2,846                      

4. Transport                          |1,373        |1,398        |1,487        |1,733        |1,929        |2,045        |2,024        |2,140                      

5. Employment and consumer protection |107          |110          |115          |118          |127          |148          |159          |174                        

6. Housing                            |591          |536          |514          |628          |826          |825          |816          |872                        

7. Environmental services             |2,405        |2,507        |2,520        |2,652        |2,926        |3,000        |3,137        |3,620                      

8. Financing items                    |203          |461          |527          |622          |660          |29           |464          |386                        

                                      |-------      |-------      |-------      |-------      |-------      |-------      |-------      |-------                    

  All services                        |18,515       |19,231       |19,882       |21,221       |22,790       |23,742       |26,006       |27,662                     

Move-on Programme

Mr. Fearn : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many young people have been housed under the move-on programme.

Mr. Yeo [holding answer 16 December 1991] : A total of 1,550 people aged 16 to 25 moved on from hostels, shared housing, bed and breakfast or other similar temporary accommodation into permanent housing provided by housing associations between 1 July 1990 and 30 June 1991.

Under my Department's rough sleepers initiative in central London, some 600 people aged 16 to 25 had been housed in hostels, flats and houses at the end of September 1991.


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