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SCOTLAND
Asbestosis
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to reach a decision in relation to legislation on deferred damages for victims of asbestosis as proposed by the Scottish Law Commission ; and if he will make a statement.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : My right hon. Friend has welcomed and accepted the recommendations made by the Scottish Law Commission in its Report on the Effect of Death on Damages (Scottish Law Commission No. 134). We hope that it will prove possible for a private Member to bring forward a Bill to give effect to the Commission's recommendations early in the current Parliament.
Housing
Mr. Bill Walker : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the Official Report a list in descending order of the average rents of local housing authorities in Scotland for 1991-92 and for 1992-93 ; and if he will make a statement.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : The information requested is shown in the table. Average council house rents are expected to have increased by 7.0 per cent. from £23.14 per house per week in 1991-92 to £24.75 in 1992-93.
I have placed in the Library a more detailed analysis of local authority housing revenue account income and expenditure outturns for 1991-92 and budget forecasts for 1992-93. This shows the wide variations which exist between local authorities in, for example, the level of council rents, expenditure on loan charges, and expenditure on management and maintenance of their housing stock.
Average rents (£ per house per week)
|1991-92
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|Scotland |23.14
1 |Edinburgh |28.88
2 |Dundee |28.40
3<2> |Western Isles |28.31
4<2> |Clydebank |26.93
5<2> |Glasgow |26.78
6 |Dumbarton |25.95
7<2> |Orkney Islands |25.60
8<2> |Ross and Cromarty |25.10
9<2> |Stewartry |24.65
10<2> |Bearsden and Milngavie |24.53
11<2> |Skye and Lochalsh |24.51
12<2> |Annandale and Eskdale |24.14
13<2> |Shetland Islands |24.12
14<2> |Inverness |24.08
15<2> |Nairn |24.04
16<2> |Roxburgh |23.94
17<2> |Wigtown |23.60
18<2> |Lochaber |23.59
19<2> |Sutherland |23.43
20<2> |Argyll and Bute |23.43
21 |Stirling |23.26
22<2> |Gordon |23.24
23 |Clackmannan |23.19
24 |Cumbernauld and Kilsyth|23.16
25 |East Kilbride |23.11
26 |North East Fife |22.89
27 |Kirkcaldy |22.63
28 |Monklands |22.58
29<2> |Caithness |22.20
30 |East Lothian |21.95
31 |Inverclyde |21.77
32 |Hamilton |21.63
33 |Strathkelvin |21.58
34 |Banff and Buchan |21.26
35 |Nithsdale |21.23
36 |Dunfermline |21.21
37 |Berwickshire |21.00
38 |Moray |20.94
39 |Aberdeen |20.76
40 |Clydesdale |20.68
41 |Renfrew |20.47
42 |Cumnock and Doon Valley|20.32
43 |Kyle and Carrick |20.31
44 |Cunninghame |20.27
45 |Falkirk |20.02
46 |Perth and Kinross |20.01
47 |Motherwell |19.72
48 |Kilmarnock and Loudoun |19.31
49 |West Lothian |19.03
50 |Ettrick and Lauderdale |18.84
51<2> |Badenoch and Strathspey|18.81
52<2> |Kincardine and Deeside |18.77
53 |Angus |17.90
54 |Tweeddale |17.87
55 |Eastwood |17.86
56 |Midlothian |15.92
Average rents (£ per house per week)
|1992-93
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1<1> |Scotland |24.75
1<1> |Western Isles |30.63
2 |Edinburgh |30.63
3 |Dundee |30.43
4<1> |Glasgow |29.02
5<1> |Skye and Lochalsh |28.92
6<1> |Ross and Cromarty |28.53
7 |Dumbarton |27.94
8<1> |Shetland Islands |27.81
9<1> |Bearsden and Milngavie |27.58
10<1> |Orkney Islands |27.45
11<1> |Sutherland |27.42
12<1> |Inverness |27.37
13<1> |Wigtown |27.33
14<1> |Stewartry |27.00
15<1> |Nairn |26.99
16<1> |Clydebank |26.77
17<1> |Argyll and Bute |26.45
18<1> |Roxburgh |26.27
19<1> |Lochaber |26.14
20<1> |Annandale and Eskdale |25.97
21<1> |Gordon |25.33
22 |Stirling |25.10
23<1> |Caithness |24.72
24 |Clackmannan |24.69
25 |Kirkcaldy |24.63
26 |Inverclyde |24.25
27 |Cumbernauld and Kilsyth|24.15
28 |Monklands |24.11
29 |Nithsdale |23.72
30 |East Kilbride |23.70
31 |Hamilton |23.70
32 |North East Fife |23.21
33 |Strathkelvin |23.14
34 |Moray |22.86
35 |Dunfermline |22.84
36 |Cumnock and Doon Valley|22.61
37 |Berwickshire |22.46
38 |Renfrew |22.44
39 |East Lothian |22.35
40<1> |Badenoch and Strathspey|22.31
41 |Banff and Buchan |22.17
42 |Cunninghame |22.05
43 |Perth and Kinross |21.94
44<1> |Kincardine and Deeside |21.84
45 |Clydesdale |21.82
46 |Falkirk |21.21
47 |Motherwell |21.09
48 |Eastwood |20.97
49 |Aberdeen |20.65
50 |Kyle and Carrick |20.46
51 |West Lothian |19.82
52 |Tweeddale |19.75
53 |Ettrick and Lauderdale |19.51
54 |Kilmarnock and Loudoun |19.38
55 |Angus |17.90
56 |Midlothian |16.21
SOCIAL SECURITY
Benefits
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security by how much expenditure on supplementary benefit and income support has been reduced in each year as a result of the restriction of mortgage interest payments to 50 per cent. for the first 16 weeks of a claim.
Mr. Burt : The information is as follows :
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Annual amount of mortgage interest not included in assessments due to the restriction to 50 per cent. Year |£ millions --------------------------------- 1988 |33 1989 |34 1990 |71 Notes: 1. Figures have been rounded to the nearest million. 2. Annual amount for each year has been derived by multiplying the average weekly figure for a week in May by 52. 3. The figures do not take account of changes in interest rates and case loads, among other variables, during the year.
Benefits Statistics
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he will reissue the table published in the Official Report of 13 February 1992, columns 607 , showing the combined value of child benefit and child dependency increases for widows and invalidity pensioners, with amended headings showing the meaning of each column of figures ; and whether he will publish a similar table showing the combined value of child benefit and war widows' children's allowances.
Mr. Burt : The tables are as follows :
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National insurance widows and invalidity pensioners
A B C D E
Uprating date Rate of Equivalent vGross male weekly Equivalent weekly earnings net of income tax and
child benefiof column B average earnings, with national insurance contributions, with amounts in
plus child amounts at amounts in column B as column B as percentage
dependency April 1991 percentage Single person Married couple
increase prices
|(£) |(£) |(£) |(per cent.)|(£) |(per cent.)|(£) |(per cent.)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
November 1979 |11.10 |24.52 |114.10 |9.7 |79.90 |13.9 |83.60 |13.3
November 1980 |12.25 |23.47 |135.10 |9.1 |93.40 |13.1 |97.80 |12.5
November 1981 |12.95 |22.16 |149.50 |8.7 |101.00 |12.8 |105.40 |12.3
November 1982 |13.80 |22.22 |160.60 |8.6 |107.40 |12.8 |112.50 |12.3
November 1983 |14.10 |21.65 |172.40 |8.2 |115.50 |12.2 |121.30 |11.6
November 1984 |14.50 |21.22 |187.40 |7.7 |125.90 |11.5 |132.50 |10.9
November 1985 |15.05 |20.88 |199.50 |7.5 |134.40 |11.2 |141.60 |10.6
July 1986 |15.15 |20.68 |210.90 |7.2 |143.80 |10.5 |151.20 |10.0
April 1987 |15.30 |20.00 |224.00 |6.8 |155.90 |9.8 |163.00 |9.4
April 1988 |15.65 |19.69 |245.80 |6.4 |174.80 |9.0 |182.00 |8.6
April 1989 |16.20 |18.86 |269.50 |6.0 |191.30 |8.5 |198.90 |8.1
April 1990 |16.90 |17.98 |295.60 |5.7 |212.80 |7.9 |221.10 |7.6
April 1991 |<1>17.95 |17.95 |318.90 |5.6 |230.00 |7.8 |238.30 |7.5
<1> Where the new higher rate of child benefit for the eldest qualifying child applied, the child dependency increase was
adjusted so that the total level of support remained the same for all children.
War widows ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- November 1979 |14.00 |30.93 |114.10 |12.3 |79.90 |17.5 |83.60 |16.7 November 1980 |15.35 |29.41 |135.10 |11.4 |93.40 |16.4 |97.80 |15.7 November 1981 |16.10 |27.55 |149.50 |10.8 |101.00 |15.9 |105.40 |15.3 November 1982 |17.10 |27.53 |160.60 |10.6 |107.40 |15.9 |112.50 |15.2 November 1983 |17.45 |26.80 |172.40 |10.1 |115.50 |15.1 |121.30 |14.4 November 1984 |17.90 |26.20 |187.40 |9.6 |125.90 |14.2 |132.50 |13.5 November 1985 |18.55 |25.74 |199.50 |9.3 |134.40 |13.8 |141.60 |13.1 July 1986 |18.65 |25.46 |210.90 |8.8 |143.80 |13.0 |151.20 |12.3 April 1987 |18.85 |24.65 |224.00 |8.4 |155.90 |12.1 |163.00 |11.6 April 1988 |19.25 |24.22 |245.80 |7.8 |174.80 |11.0 |182.00 |10.6 April 1989 |19.85 |23.11 |269.50 |7.4 |191.30 |10.4 |198.90 |10.0 April 1990 |20.65 |21.97 |295.60 |7.0 |212.80 |9.7 |221.10 |9.3 April 1991 |<1>21.90|21.90 |318.90 |6.9 |230.00 |9.5 |238.30 |9.2 <1> Where the new higher rate of child benefit for the eldest qualifying child applied, the war widow's child's allowance was adjusted so that the total level of support remained the same for all children.
Mr. Battle : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion and how many supplementary benefit income support claims from couples are made by women each year.
Mr. Burt : There is no information on the proportion of claims from couples made by women.
Of those actually receiving income support, there are about 35,000 couples in which the woman is the claimant. This is approximately 5 per cent. of the total.
Source : Income Support Annual Statistical Enquiry May 1990.
Young People
Mr. Battle : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many 16 and 17-year-olds who failed to gain a place on a YTS scheme (a) applied for additional benefits and severe hardship payments and (b) what percentage were successful in such applications in (i) 1988, (ii) 1989, (iii) 1990 and (iv) 1991.
Mr. Burt : The Government guarantee the offer of a place on youth training (YT) to all 16 and 17-year-olds who seek one. The safety net of income support caters for those who are at risk of severe hardship whilst seeking an initial YT place or for those between YT places. No information is available with regard to 16 and 17-year-olds seeking a YT place who claim benefits other than income support. Information about the number of people claiming income support under the severe hardship provision was not kept before 1990. The number of people claiming in 1990 was 14,106 and in 1991 was 25,541. Of these 61 per cent. and 71 per cent. respectively were successful.
Mr. Battle : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he has received a copy of the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux report entitled "Severe Hardship CAB Evidence on Young People and Benefits" ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Burt : We have received the report and are studying the recommendations closely.
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what response he has made to the recommendations of the Social Security Advisory Committee regarding benefits for young people.
Mr. Burt : We have received the report from the committee and are studying closely the recommendations that they have made on young people and other matters.
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Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will restore the full rate of income support for young people under 25 years living away from home.
Mr. Burt : We have no plans to change the existing legislation.
Maxwell Pension Schemes
Mr. Battle : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will use discretionary powers given under the Social Security Act 1990, to ensure that the debt owed to the Maxwell pension schemes is treated as a preferential debt for the purposes of the Insolvency Act 1986.
Miss Widdecombe : Schedule 4 to the Social Security Act 1990 introduced the employer debt provision for occupational pension schemes. There is no discretionary power to treat the debt as preferential for the purposes of the Insolvency Act 1986.
Occupational Pensions
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when the level of occupational pension above which unemployment benefit is reduced was last increased ; what would be the present limit if it had been increased in line with average earnings ; and what is his policy regarding future increases in the limit.
Mr. Burt : The £35 per week limit was introduced in April 1981 and has remained at that level. If it had been increased in line with average earnings the present limit would be £84 per week. Increasing the limit would not represent the best use of resources for those who have a measure of support through an occupational or personal pension and we have no plans to do so.
Loans and Grants
Mr. Battle : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the percentages of (a) budgeting loans and (b) community care grants which were awarded to each of the 15 client groups defined by his Department for (i) the Leeds, West area and (ii) nationally, for the financial years 1989-90 and 1990-91.
Mr. Scott : The information requested is as follows :
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Percentage of Community Care Grants awarded to client groups
|National |Leeds West |National |Leeds West
Client group |1989-90 |1989-90 |1990-91 |1990-91
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Over 80 with higher pensioner premium |5.4 |2.5 |5.5 |3.9
60-79, disabled, higher pensioner premium |5.1 |2.0 |7.0 |3.7
60-79, ordinary pensioner premium or over 60 without pensioner premium |15.1 |7.4 |14.4 |8.6
Lone parent with disability premium |0.1 |0.5 |1.0 |0.2
Family with disability premium |3.3 |2.3 |3.8 |2.7
Others with disability premium |2.6 |7.6 |13.0 |8.1
Lone parent without disability premium |25.4 |35.3 |25.9 |45.5
Unemployed, signing quarterly with family premium |0.4 |0.0 |0.3 |0.0
Unemployed, signing quarterly without family premium |1.1 |1.0 |0.7 |0.5
Unemployed or with training allowance with family premium |8.5 |6.6 |8.1 |5.2
Unemployed or with training allowance without family premium |12.8 |23.6 |11.8 |16.2
Others with family premium |2.1 |1.8 |2.2 |1.7
Others without family premium |5.9 |6.4 |5.6 |3.2
No income support in payment, involved in a trade dispute |0.0 |0.0 |0.0 |0.0
Not in receipt of income support |1.0 |2.5 |0.4 |0.5
Note: Due to rounding the sum of the percentages in the above tables may not add up to 100.
Percentage of budgeting loans awarded to client groups
Client Group |National |Leeds West |National |Leeds West
|1989-90 |1989-90 |1990-91 |1990-91
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Over 80 with higher pensioner premium |0.4 |0.8 |0.1 |0.1
60-79, disabled, higher pensioner premium |0.6 |1.1 |0.8 |1.5
60-79, ordinary pensioner premium or over 60 without pensioner premium |3.5 |5.4 |3.4 |4.8
Lone parent with disability premium |0.4 |0.4 |0.5 |0.2
Family with disability premium |1.6 |1.3 |1.8 |1.5
Others with disability premium |4.2 |4.8 |4.5 |5.1
Lone parent without disability premium |48.6 |49.9 |51.0 |51.7
Unemployed, signing quarterly with family premium |0.4 |0.5 |0.3 |0.5
Unemployed, signing quarterly without family premium |1.8 |1.8 |1.3 |1.7
Unemployed or with training allowance with family premium |15.7 |14.4 |14.6 |15.3
Unemployed or with training allowance without family premium |18.4 |16.0 |17.6 |13.9
Others with family premium |1.1 |1.6 |1.2 |1.1
Others without family premium |3.0 |2.0 |2.6 |2.6
No income support in payment, involved in a trade dispute |0.0 |0.0 |0.0 |0.0
Not in receipt of income support |0.2 |0.1 |0.1 |0.0
Note: Due to rounding the sum of the percentages in the above tables may not add up to 100.
Over 80 with higher pensioner premium 0.4 0.8 0.1 0.1
60-79, disabled, higher pensioner premium 0.6 1.1 0.8 1.5 60-79, ordinary pensioner premium or over 60 without pensioner premium 3.5 5.4 3.4 4.8
Lone parent with disability premium 0.4 0.4 0.5 0.2
Family with disability premium 1.6 1.3 1.8 1.5
Others with disability premium 4.2 4.8 4.5 5.1
Lone parent without disability premium 48.6 49.9 51.0 51.7 Unemployed, signing quarterly with family premium 0.4 0.5 0.3 0.5
Unemployed, signing quarterly without family premium 1.8 1.8 1.3 1.7
Unemployed or with training allowance with family premium 15.7 14.4 14.6 15.3
Unemployed or with training allowance without family premium 18.4 16.0 17.6 13.9
Others with family premium 1.1 1.6 1.2 1.1
Others without family premium 3.0 2.0 2.6 2.6
No income support in payment, involved in a trade dispute. 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Not in receipt of income support 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.0
Note :
Due to rounding the sum of the percentages in the above tables may not add up to 100.
Statutory Sick Pay
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what rate of statutory sick pay was payable to a person previously earning (a) half average earnings, (b)
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average earnings and (c) one and a half times average earnings, in cash terms and as a percentage of their earnings, in each year since statutory sick pay commenced.Mr. Scott : The information requested is as follows :
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Date Average Statutory sick pay<2> payable on average Statutory sick pay as a percentage of
earnings<1>earnings ofearnings of
|(a) |(b) |(c) |(a) |(b) |(c)
|50 per cent. |100 per cent.|150 per cent.|50 per cent. |100 per cent.|150 per cent.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
April 1983 |£147.40 |£40.25 |£40.25 |£40.25 |54.6 |27.3 |18.2
April 1984 |£159.30 |£42.25 |£42.25 |£42.25 |53.0 |26.5 |17.7
April 1985 |£171.00 |£44.35 |£44.35 |£44.35 |51.9 |25.9 |17.3
April 1986 |£184.70 |£46.75 |£46.75 |£46.75 |50.6 |25.3 |16.9
April 1987 |£198.90 |£47.20 |£47.20 |£47.20 |47.5 |23.7 |15.8
April 1988 |£218.40 |£49.20 |£49.20 |£49.20 |45.1 |22.5 |15.0
April 1989 |£239.70 |£52.10 |£52.10 |£52.10 |43.5 |21.7 |14.5
April 1990 |£263.10 |£52.50 |£52.50 |£52.50 |39.9 |20.0 |13.3
April 1991 |£284.70 |£43.50 |£52.50 |£52.50 |30.6 |18.4 |12.3
Notes:
<1> Earnings shown are the average for all full-time adult employees. Figures for average earnings from April 1992 are not
yet available.
<2> The majority of SSP recipients get occupational sick pay in addition to SSP when they are sick. In many cases this brings
the total payment received up to full pay.
Social Fund
Mr. Battle : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he is intending to bring forward amending regulations in light of the Social Security Advisory Committee's report on "The Social Fund and New Structure" ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Scott : In considering the conclusions and recommendations of this report, we shall also wish to take into account the findings of the university of York social policy research unit's report which we commissioned at the start of the social fund. We have now received that report and it will be published in due course.
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Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what advice has been issued to area social fund officers in the past year to assist them in drafting their guidance to other social fund officers.
Mr. Scott : I refer the hon. Member to my letter of 10 March 1992 to him, a copy of which has been placed in the Library.
EC Pension Age
Mr. Battle : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the state pension age for men and women in each EC country.
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Miss Widdecombe : The information is as follows :Country | Men | Women ----------------------------------------------- Belgium<1> |FPA | 60-65 Denmark |67 |67 France |60 |60 Germany<2> |63 |60 Greece |65 |60 Republic of Ireland<3> | 65/66 | 65/66 Italy |60 |55 Luxembourg |65 |65 Netherlands |65 |65 Portugal |65 |62 Spain |65 |65 United Kingdom |65 |60 Notes: FPA-Flexible pension age. <1>Different contribution conditions apply to men and women. <2>State pension age is 65, but because of early retirement provisions the effective ages are 63 for men and 60 for women. Pension ages will be raised gradually from 2001 until fully equalised at 65 by 2012. <3>Retirement pension 65, old age pension 66.
Rent Subsidy
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the implications for the family budget of the families eligible for income support of the cuts in subsidy to rents introduced on 6 April.
Mr. Burt : We are not aware of any significant changes being introduced from 6 April this year in the subsidy paid to local authorities towards housing benefit expenditure.
DEFENCE
Royal Naval Spare Parts Distribution Centre, Eaglescliffe
Mr. Devlin : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what specific information has come to light since assurances about the future of royal naval spare parts distribution centre, Eaglescliffe were given to the hon. Member for Stockton, South in early 1991 that jobs on the site were safe ;
(2) if he will make a statement about the future of RNSPD at Eaglescliffe ;
(3) what studies have been commissioned about the future of RNSPD Eaglescliffe ; and what factors have been set for consideration by (a) Ministers and (b) officials.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The Ministry of Defence is conducting a comprehensive examination of its support activities in order to match reductions in the front line. As part of the examination, we are considering whether a more cost-effective operation could be achieved by the introduction of market testing at certain establishments, including RNSPD Eaglescliffe. We are also examining the possible transfer of some headquarters staff at Eaglescliffe to the Bath area, in accordance with our plans to establish a naval support command, but no decision has yet been taken. I have written to my hon. Friend with details of the work in hand.
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HMS Vanguard
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost of the naming ceremony for the Trident nuclear submarine HMS Vanguard in Barrow on 30 April.
Mr. Aitken : The full cost of the naming ceremony for HMS Vanguard is a matter for the shipbuilder, Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering Ltd. In accordance with the established practice, the Ministry of Defence made a contribution towards the April 30 ceremony's cost. This will not exceed £45,000.
Channel Tunnel
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has had any discussions with his French counterpart over the use in emergencies of the channel tunnel to transport missiles, missile launchers or other military equipment.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : My right hon. and learned Friend has had no such discussions. Officials of my Department meet biannually with their French counterparts, however, to discuss arrangements for resupply and reinforcement in times of crisis, including the possible use of the channel tunnel.
Komsomolet Submarine
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to have urgent discussions with his Norwegian and Russian counterparts over methods safely to remove the nuclear materials from the Komsomolet nuclear submarine of the former Soviet navy that sank off Norway in 1989.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The recovery of nuclear materials from the Russian submarine Komsomolet is a matter for the Russian Government. We would be willing to consider requests for advice from the Russian and Norwegian Governments concerning the future of the submarine.
Radioactive Waste, Wales
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what sites in Wales contain radioactive wastes arising from (a) the production cycle for nuclear warheads and (b) the operation of nuclear-powered submarines.
Mr. Aitken : Small amounts of low-level radioactive waste are stored temporarily at the atomic weapons establishment, Cardiff. No sites in Wales hold waste from the operation of nuclear powered submarines.
HMS Turbulent
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the cause, effect and cost of the fire on the Trafalgar class nuclear submarine HMS Turbulent in Devonport dockyard on 30 April ; and whether there are any implications arising from the fire for the future designation of Z-berths for nuclear-powered submarines.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The fire occurred in the electrical switchboard of HMS Turbulent. The precise cause, the full extent of the damage and the costs of repair are still being
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assessed. Twenty-four personnel were treated for the effects of smoke inhalation. There were no other casualties. The fire posed no threat to the submarine's nuclear reactor. There are no implications for the future designation of Z-berths.Nuclear Submarines (Health Risks)
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the radiological risks posed to people living in Scotland by the presence of nuclear-powered and nuclear-armed submarines on the Clyde and Forth estuaries.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : All Royal Navy nuclear powered submarines are operated to stringent safety criteria. As is
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made clear in the latest issue of "Marine Environment Radioactivity Surveys at Nuclear Submarine Berths in the UK", published by HMSO and covering the surveys undertaken in 1990--a copy of which is in the House of Commons Library--there has been no radiological hazard to any member of the general public from the operation of nuclear- powered submarines.It has of course been the policy of successive Governments neither to confirm nor deny the presence of nuclear weapons at specific locations or times. I can, however, state that there has never been an accident involving a United Kingdom nuclear weapon that has resulted in any radiological hazard to the public.
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