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Waste Shipments
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to introduce further controls on the regulations of trans- frontier shipments of waste.
Mr. Baldry : The United Kingdom is pressing for agreement in the European Community on a regulation
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which will strengthen existing controls. The regulation will enable member states to ratify the UNEP Basel convention on the trans-boundary movements of hazardous wastes and their disposal.Car Paint Spraying
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on the environmental and health effects of effluent resulting from industrial-scale car paint spraying waste ; what regulations govern the operation of such plants ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Baldry : The pollution most likely to result from industrial- scale car paint spraying is to air, the main pollutants being volatile organic compounds. Volatile organic compounds contribute to the formation of ground level ozone and photochemical smog, and can cause a local smell problem ; certain volatile organic compounds are toxic or carcinogenic. From 1 April this year, paint application in vehicle manufacturing where five tonnes or more of organic solvent is used per year will require authorisation under the local authority air pollution control system set up by part I of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Liquid effluents arising from industrial-scale car paint spraying are also subject to control. Discharges of effluent to sewer require the consent of the relevant water company ; discharges to a watercourse require the consent of the National Rivers Authority. Where the application of paint in a manufacturing process is likely to produce 1,000 tonnes or more of special waste a year, the process will be subject to integrated pollution control which is enforced centrally by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution.
MINIS Report
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects the next MINIS report to be published ; if he will make it his policy to place a copy in the Library ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Heseltine : The next MINIS reports, MINIS 13, will be published after the end of the round of reviews and meetings now starting in my Department. I expect them to
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be available in June. It was from the start, and remains, my policy to place a copy of the MINIS returns in the Library of the House.New Estates (Crime Prevention)
Mr. Cummings : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will bring forward legislation to make it obligatory for local authorities and private developers to liaise with the police crime prevention officers at the initial stages of the development of housing and industrial estates.
Mr. Yeo : The Town and Country Planning (Development Plan) Regulations, which come into force on 10 February, will require local planning authorities to have regard to crime prevention when preparing development plans. Furthermore, my Department's circulars 1/84 (issued jointly with the Home Office) and 22/88, provide guidance on the role of planning in crime prevention. They encourage local planning authorities to consult police architectural liaison officers on planning applications for developments, such as housing and industrial estates, where there is potential to eliminate or reduce criminal activity through the adoption of best practice at the design stage.
Bats
Mr. Alex Carlile : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will issue a development control policy note for the guidance of local planning authorities in relation to applications in which an issue arises from the presence of bats on an application site ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Yeo : I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales today.
Development Corporations
Ms. Primarolo : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the total amount of money made available to each development corporation in England for each year of operation up to December 1991.
Mr. Key : This is tabulated as follows :
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Grant in aid to UDCs £ million UDC |1981-82|1982-83|1983-84|1984-85|1985-86 ----------------------------------------------------------------- London Docklands |30.183 |40.587 |62.954 |58.639 |53.616 Merseyside |6.107 |20.676 |31.870 |29.723 |28.325
UDC |1986-87|1987-88|1988-89|1989-90|1990-91|1991-92 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- London Docklands |64.881 |82.800 |116.415|255.750|332.975|248.710 Merseyside |27.604 |20.942 |20.535 |23.000 |24.000 |28.084 Black Country |- |2.443 |23.000 |38.000 |32.000 |36.350 Teesside |- |5.000 |20.697 |36.009 |42.135 |53.100 Trafford Park |0.031 |10.450 |15.500 |13.300 |24.200 |28.100 Tyne and Wear |- |4.000 |24.016 |35.800 |37.750 |37.500 Bristol |- |- |0.283 |5.000 |13.425 |27.125 Central Manchester |- |- |2.500 |11.000 |14.000 |16.000 Leeds |- |- |2.743 |8.750 |14.000 |12.600 Sheffield |- |- |7.958 |9.500 |18.967 |13.300
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Ms. Primarolo : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many jobs have been created in each development corporation in England in each year of its operation.
Mr. Key : The totals for permanent jobs created in UDC areas to March 1991, net of losses, are as follows. Individual figures for each year are not available on a consistent basis for all the corporations.
|Numbers
-----------------------------------
London Docklands |26,000
Merseyside |4,626
Black Country |2,600
Teesside |4,650
Trafford Park |2,557
Tyne and Wear |3,169
Bristol |4,000
Central Manchester |950
Leeds |5,862
Sheffield |7,580
|-------
Total |61,994
London Boroughs (Statutory Duties)
Mr. Dykes : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will examine the scope for additional Departmental assistance to outer London boroughs incurring unavoidable additional expenditure outlays from extra statutory burdens since 1987-88.
Mr. Key : We are satisfied that standard spending assessments take proper account of all statutory burdens falling on each class of authority.
Property Services Agency
Mr. Strang : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many people are currently employed by the Property Services Agency ; and if he will give a breakdown of the number of employees in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, the English regions and overseas, respectively.
Mr. Yeo : As at 31 December 1991, PSA Services employed a total of 17,581 staff in the following locations :
|Number
-----------------------------------
Scotland |1,542
Wales |799
Northern Ireland |393
English regions<1> |11,538
Overseas |3,309
|-------
Total |17,581
<1> (including all staff in London
and Croydon).
Mr. Strang : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what changes he has made in the Property Services Agency to prepare it for privatisation ; and if he will make a statement on the Government's plans for this sale.
Mr. Yeo : PSA Services was restructured in 1990 into two main businesses, PSA Projects and PSA Building Management, which now consists of five regional businesses. A contractor manager was appointed for BM in November 1991. Improved management and accounting systems are being installed and commercial contracts
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with client Departments are being negotiated. Action has been taken to reduce costs. A major staff rundown is in hand, as far as possible by voluntary means, though compulsory redundancies cannot be ruled out. I intend to offer PSA Projects for sale early this year ; I am currently considering the timing and the form in which it should be offered for sale. I expect to offer the five BM businesses for sale in the second half of 1992-93 on the basis of the implementation plan currently being developed.Mr. Strang : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many people were employed by the Property Services Agency on 1 April 1991 ; and what were the corresponding numbers in 1990, 1989, 1988 and 1987.
Mr. Yeo : PSA Services employed a total of 19,571 people on 1 April 1991. Corresponding totals for previous years are :
Year |Number --------------------------- 1 April 1990 |23,441 1 April 1989 |26,046 1 April 1988 |28,420 1 April 1987 |29,311
Public Access to Information
Mr. Arbuthnot : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he proposes to publish the consultation paper on the implementation of the EC directive on public access to information.
Mr. Trippier : I have today issued the consultation paper setting out the Government's proposals on implementing this directive (EC 90/313).
The United Kingdom Government took a leading part in the negotiation of the EC directive which was agreed by the Environment Council of ministers in 1990. This directive must be implemented by member states by the end of 1992.
Improving the public's access to environmental information was one of the key principles set out in the Environment White Paper "This Common Inheritance". Better access to environmental information will help to raise the standard of public debate on environmental issues by clarifying the facts.
We have already taken steps towards the implementation of the directive through the establishment of public registers of decisions taken by the enforcement authorities such as those held by the National Rivers Authority and Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution. The directive extends the public's right of access to information held by public authorities beyond that already held on registers.
The consultation paper sets out the Government's proposals on implementation. In particular it covers the following issues : the kinds of information covered by the Directive ;
a guideline list of the public authorities subject to the Directive ;
the exemptions provided for in the Directive ; and
legislation proposals. Views are invited on these proposals by 30 April 1992.
Copies of the consultation paper have been placed in the Library of the House.
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Citizens Charter
Mr. Blunkett : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much money his Department has spent on producing its citizens charter proposals, arising from production, distribution and publicity costs.
Mr. Heseltine [holding answer 21 January 1992] : I issued on 24 January a council tenants charter. Production, initial distribution and publicity costs are estimated at £291,550. Further distribution costs will be incurred in response to demand.
Local Government Finance
Miss Emma Nicholson : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average number of liability orders for arrears of community charge processed per hour in the magistrates courts.
Mr. John Patten : I have been asked to reply.
For each hour which magistrates courts in England and Wales specifically set aside for community charge enforcement proceedings, an average of 243 liability orders are issued.
Miss Emma Nicholson : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average cost per hour to public funds of magistrates courts hearings to grant liability orders for recovery of community charge.
Mr. John Patten : I have been asked to reply.
The average cost per sitting hour in magistrates courts is £217.
ATTORNEY-GENERAL
Mortgage Repossessions
Mr. John Garrett : To ask the Attorney-General if he will list the number of mortgages repossession actions begun in each county court for 1990 and 1991.
The Attorney-General : The total number of mortgage repossession actions entered, suspended orders and orders made during 1990 and 1991 in each county court in England and Wales is contained in two lists which have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses of Parliament. These figures do not indicate how many houses have been repossessed through the courts as not all of the orders made will have resulted in the issue and execution of warrants of possession.
Bankruptcy
Mr. John Garrett : To ask the Attorney-General if he will list the number of bankruptcy cases begun in each county court for 1990 and 1991.
The Attorney-General : The total number of creditors' petitions, debtors' petitions and company winding-up petitions issued during 1990 and 1991 in each county court in England and Wales having insolvency jurisdiction is contained in two lists which have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses of Parliament.
Forensic Scientists
Mr. Sheerman : To ask the Attorney-General if he will take measures to ensure that independent forensic scientists receive legal aid payments due to them without delay.
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The Attorney-General : It is the responsibility of the solicitor who commissions a report from an expert, such as an independent forensic scientist, to pay for the report. In a legally aided case, the solicitor may then claim reimbursement of the cost of the expert's report, in accordance with legal aid regulations.
Experts' Fees
Mr. Sheerman : To ask the Attorney-General when he intends to introduce the scheme for interim payment of experts' fees from legal aid funds.
The Attorney-General : In a legally aided civil case, a solicitor may claim a payment on account for disbursements, including experts' fees. The Lord Chancellor had hoped to introduce a similar scheme last year for the payment of Crown court legal aid bills, but the proposals he put forward for the scale and operation of such a scheme were not acceptable to the Law Society.
The Lord Chancellor is now reconsidering his proposals, and hopes to continue consultation with the Law Society and be in a position to introduce a scheme later this year.
Serious Fraud Office
Mr. David Shaw : To ask the Attorney-General what sums have been recovered by administrators or receivers in each of the past four years as a result of investigations by the Serious Fraud Office.
The Attorney-General : The purpose of investigations by the Serious Fraud Office is to establish whether or not criminal offences have been committed.
The Serious Fraud Office does co-operate with administrators and receivers, but insofar as funds are recovered by the latter, such information is not routinely reported to the Serious Fraud Office. It would in any event be impossible to specify the property recovered as the result of investigations by the Serious Fraud Office.
Mr. David Shaw : To ask the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on the development of practical co-operation between the Serious Fraud Office and authorities in (a) Switzerland and (b) Liechtenstein.
The Attorney General : The passing of the Criminal Justice (International Co-operation) Act 1990 enabled the United Kingdom to ratify the European convention on mutual assistance in criminal matters. The Convention has been ratified by both Switzerland and Liechtenstein and thus in addition to bilateral assistance on a reciprocal basis the scope for co- operation has been enlarged. The director of the Serious Fraud Office is satisfied that effective channels of communication have been estalished to enable full advantage of these arrangements to be taken.
HOUSE OF COMMONS
European Standing Committees
44. Dr. Godman : To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will make a statement on the first report of Session 1991-92 from the Select Committee on Procedure "Review of European Standing Committees".
Mr. MacGregor : I am grateful to the Procedure Committee for its thorough review of the first Session's
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experience of the new European Standing Committees. The Government are considering their recommendations carefully and will respond soon.Kiosk
46. Mr. Harry Greenway : To ask the Lord President of the Council what were the takings of the House of Commons kiosk (a) for the month of December 1991 and (b) for the year to 31 December 1991 ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. MacGregor : The takings at the souvenir kiosk in the House for December last were £191,426 ; the equivalent figure for souvenirs and other goods sold from the kiosk in Bellamy's was £28,425. In the 12 months to 31 December 1991 the takings for the souvenir kiosk in the House were £691,571 ; the takings for Bellamy's kiosk for the three months since it opened on 1 October 1991 were £42,573. All figures include VAT.
Car Parking
47. Mr. Andrew Hargreaves : To ask the Lord President of the Council how many car parking spaces are available to (a) Members and (b) the press.
Mr. MacGregor : A summary of car parking spaces available is given in annex A of the leaflet "Car Parking" obtainable from the Serjeant at Arms. I am arranging for a copy to be sent to my hon. Friend.
Statutory Instruments
Mr. Beith : To ask the Lord President of the Council when debates on statutory instruments were last adjourned under (a) Standing Order No. 14 (1)(b) and (b) Standing Order No. 15 (2).
Mr. MacGregor : The last occasion on which a debate on a motion to approve a statutory instrument was adjourned because the time for debate was not considered adequate by the Chair was Wednesday 16 February 1983.
The last occasion on which a debate on a motion to address the Queen for the annulment of a statutory instrument was adjourned because the time for debate was not considered adequate by the Chair was 9 February 1976.
Pedestrian Underpass
Sir David Steel : To ask the Lord President of the Council what estimate he has made of the cost and time of construction of a pedestrian underpass from the foot of the existing steps outside No. 1 Parliament street to the other side of Bridge street.
Mr. MacGregor : I understand that during the design stage for phase I of the new parliamentary building a number of options for a subway were considered but they proved either impractical or expensive. The particular location mentioned by the right hon. Member was considered, but there is insufficient space between the road surface and the roof of the District and Circle Line.
The design proposals for the next phase of the new building do envisage, however, that the existing subway will be dedicated to the use of the two Houses and that there should be a direct link through the new building to No. 1 Parliament street.
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FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Exit Visas
Mr. John Marshall : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to the Russian authorities about their failure to grant an exit visa to Yakov Fukson, of St. Petersburg.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : We can certainly raise the case of refusenik Yakov Fukson of St. Petersburg with the Russian authorities, but in order to make our representations most effective, we shall need further details.
Mr. John Marshall : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to the Russian authorities about their failure to grant an exit visa to Vadim Shlyaliter, of Yekaterinburg.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : We can certainly raise the case of refusenik Vadim Shlyaliter of Yekaterinburg with the Russian authorities, but in order to make our representations most effective, we shall need further details.
Mr. John Marshall : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to the Russian authorities about their failure to grant an exit visa to Simon Eppel, of Angarsk.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : We can certainly raise the case of refusenik Simon Eppel of Angarsk with the Russian authorities, but in order to make our representations most effective we shall need further details.
Nuclear Weapons
Mr. Macdonald : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his statement, Official Report, 14 January, column 901, if he will outline the circumstances in which the threat of the use of a strategic weapon would not be credible whereas the threat of a sub-strategic weapon might be credible.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : No. It has been the policy of successive Governments not to comment on the circumstances in which nuclear weapons might be used. Deterrence is best served by ensuring uncertainty in the mind of any aggressor about the nature of our response.
Mr. Macdonald : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his Department's policy towards the complete removal of all tactical and sub-strategic nuclear weapons from Russia, all of the other former Soviet republics and from NATO countries.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : We strongly endorsed United States and Soviet undertakings last autumn to eliminate all their ground-launched sub- strategic nuclear weapons, and have subsequently welcomed the Commonwealth of Independent States stated intention to honour that commitment.
Ukraine
Mr. Macdonald : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his policy towards the retention of nuclear weapons by the Ukraine.
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Mr. Douglas Hogg : The Commonwealth of Independent States has agreed that nuclear weapons on Ukrainian territory will remain under unified control until they have been dismantled by the end of 1994. The Foreign Secretary, during his recent visit to Kiev, welcomed this as well as Ukraine's intention to accede to the non- proliferation treaty as soon as it is in a position to abide by the treaty's obligations.Jonathan Moyle
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent communications Her Majesty's Government have had with the Chilean Government over the death of Jonathan Moyle
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : A senior Foreign and Commonwealth Office official discussed the case with the Chilean Foreign Minister in November 1991. He expressed Her Majesty's Government's concern that those responsible for Mr. Moyle's death should be brought to justice. Our embassy at Santiago maintains regular contact with the Chilean authorities and continues to monitor the case closely.
Dubai
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will seek the agreement of the Government of the United Arab Emirates to disclose details of all discussions he has held with it about the export of materials from Britain to the special branch of Dubai.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : We have had no such discussions.
India
Mr. Nellist : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received concerning human rights abuses by Indian state forces in the Punjab ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : We have received many representations about human rights abuses in Punjab, where the authorities are facing a campaign of murder and terrorism by Sikh separatists. The Indian Government are fully aware of our concerns.
Mr. Nellist : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has concerning the numbers of people in the Punjab (a) killed, (b) arrested, (c) missing feared killed or imprisoned and (d) tortured by Indian security forces since 1984 ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : According to the latest Indian figures, it is estimated that approximately 12,000 people have been killed in Punjab since 1984. The other particulars requested are not available.
Maastricht Agreement
Mr. Favell : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 21 January, Official Report, column 101, if he will make his policy to make available the revised text of the Maastricht agreement, as prepared for signatures, at least seven days before the treaty is signed.
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Mr. Garel-Jones : The text of the treaty on European union agreed at Maastricht was made available to the House on 16 December. It is now being prepared in a form suitable for signature on 7 February. This process will be completed only shortly before 7 February. I will ensure that a copy of the text is made available to the House immediately after signature.
Western European Union
Mr. Mates : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in discussions within the Council of the Western European Union over the United Kingdom's obligations under article VI of protocol No. II to the modified Brussels treaty of 1954 ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : In accordance with the procedure set out in article VI of protocol II of the modified Brussels treaty, on 11 July 1991 the Permanent Council of Western European Union considered the changes in the levels of United Kingdom forces stationed in Germany proposed in "Options for Change". In the light of the views of the Supreme Allied Commander, Europe, and the decisions of the NATO Defence Planning Committee, the council noted the planned reductions.
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