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Mr. Baldry : The requirements of the building regulations for the conservation of fuel and power include provisions for the insulation of both new houses and other new buildings. These requirements were made more stringent in 1990. The Government are at present reviewing them to see how they might be further strengthened.
The Government will continue to make substantial capital sums available for improving the insulation of existing homes. Measures are undertaken through repair and improvement programmes to the local authority housing stock, the green house programme, the home energy efficiency scheme, house renovation grants and minor works assistance and the Housing Corporation's rehabilitation programme.
The Energy Efficiency Office through its best practice programme and energy management assistance scheme promotes improvements in the energy efficiency performance of other existing buildings.
Breaches of EC Legislation
Mr. Win Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement listing the alleged breaches of European Community environment legislation brought to the Government's attention since 1984 to the present time and the current status of each of the alleged breaches.
Mr. Maclean : I will write to the hon. Member as the information requested will take a little time to assemble.
Environmental Impact Assessments
Mr. Win Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many environmental impact assessments have been presented with planning applications in each of the last three years ; and what assessment has been made of their compliance with the EC directive on environmental impact assessment.
Mr. Baldry : The number of environmental statements accompanying planning applications in England notified to my Department in the three years since directive 85/337/EEC came into effect in July 1988 is :
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It is the responsibility of the planning authority to which an environmental statement is submitted to consider its adequacy and whether it complies with the requirements of the Town and Country Planning (Assessment of Environmental Effects) Regulations 1988 which implement directive 85/337/EEC in respect of projects requiring planning permission. Where an application is the subject of an appeal or is called in, the responsibility transfers to the inspector or the Secretary of State. The regulations empower an authority, an inspector or the Secretary of State to require the applicant to provide such further information as may be specified.
Secure Car Service
Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those Government Ministers who have a car allocated to them under the secure car scheme.
Mr. Baldry : All Ministers are eligible for a car and driver from the Government car scheme.
Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total cost of providing the secure car service in each of the last two financial years ; and how many vehicles were involved.
Mr. Baldry : The total costs of providing the GCS ministerial and pool fleet for the two years in question were :
|£ million
------------------------------
1990-91 |6.1
1991-92 |6.6
The fleet numbered 174 vehicles in 1990-91 and 176 vehicles in 1991-92.
Brick Industry
Mr. Alex Carlile : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any proposals for the assistance of the brick manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Baldry : The brick manufacturing industry will benefit from the general recovery in the economy, the signs of which are already here, and play a significant role in the construction industry's future growth.
Genetically Modified Organisms
Dr. Twinn : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on the proposed regulations to implement the two EC directives on contained uses and deliberate release of genetically modified organisms.
Mr. Maclean : The responses to the consultation paper and draft regulations which were issued in October 1991 raised several issues of clarification on the meaning of the requirements for those needing to comply with them. Officials of the Department are currently considering with the Health and Safety Executive how best to clarify and improve aspects of the draft regulations. The revised regulations will be delayed therefore beyond the target date of May but will be issued as soon as possible thereafter.
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Radon
Dr. Twinn : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the results of the surveys of radon in homes in England will be published ; and what new information they will provide.
Mr. Maclean : The National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) has today published a report, "Radon in Dwellings in England", summarising the results of the radon surveys that it has carried out in England, principally under contract to the Department of the Environment, up to the end of 1991.
Copies have been placed in the Library, and have been distributed to local authorities in the areas most affected.
I welcome the report, which shows how far we have already progressed towards the target set in a recommendation of the report on indoor pollution by the Select Committee on the Environment during the last Parliament. The recommendation, which was accepted in principle, was that the Government should commit themselves to ensuring the identification of the majority of homes above the radon action level by the year 2000.
NRPB now has valid measurements for the radon levels in about 92, 000 homes, which are presented in summary form in the report. About 12,000 results are above the Government's action level. All householders have been informed in confidence of their individual results. They have received copies of the Department's booklet, "The Householders' Guide to Radon", which explains how radon concentrations in homes may be reduced quite simply, and gives addresses and telephone numbers to contact for further help. We advise everyone who knows that the radon level is above the action level to take remedial action to reduce the risks of long-term exposure. I urge them to do so, if they have not already taken action.
The largest proportion of measurements were made in response to the Government's publicity campaign in Cornwall and Devon, and over 11, 000 of the homes that exceed the action level are in those counties. Measurements are thus concentrated in the areas where indoor radon levels are known to be high, and do not reflect the overall national picture. The pattern of results is in good agreement with the predictions of the NRPB, that about 100,000 homes in the United Kingdom will have elevated radon levels, with the majority, about 60, 000, in Cornwall and Devon.
Waste Management
Dr. Twinn : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to publish a revised edition of "Waste Management Paper No. 1 : A Review of Options" ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Maclean : The second edition of "Waste Management Paper No. 1" was published on 12 May. This follows public consultation on a draft of the revised paper.
The paper provides general guidance on a range of methods of treatment and disposal of controlled waste. It gives an overview of waste management issues and includes suggestions on evaluating the options. Copies are being sent to local authorities.
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Energy Saving Trust
Mr. Carrington : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made in establishing an energy saving trust with British Gas and the regional electricity companies.
Mr. Howard : The Prime Minister has announced that, as a contribution to the international response to the threat of climate change, the United Kingdom is prepared if other countries take similar action to set itself the demanding target of returning its CO emissions to 1990 levels by the year 2000. The Government are already putting action in hand to limit emissions.
The Government, British Gas, OFGAS and 11 of the regional electricity companies in England and Wales have today become partners in an important initiative to save energy and so protect the environment.
They have agreed to establish an independent Energy Saving Trust in the course of the year. The trust will develop, propose and manage programmes to promote the energy efficient use of energy. Where it is more cost- effective, the trust will sub-contract the administration of these programmes to other agencies.
British Gas has agreed to finance schemes run by the trust to promote the efficient use of gas. Where approved by OFGAS, the costs of these programmes may be recovered from British Gas's tariff customers through an "E factor" added to the formula that controls British Gas's average tariff price.
The three initial pilot schemes being proposed by British Gas are intended to finance improvements in the efficiency with which gas is used in low income households ; provide incentives and advice for those replacing their heating systems so as to encourage the maximum cost-effective improvement in the efficiency with which they use gas ; and stimulate investment in small scale or residential applications of combined heat and power such as schemes in the domestic and commercial sector.
It is envisaged that other schemes will be devised to complement the initial three. Since the first schemes will be pilot projects, the costs of the programme in the first year are unlikely to exceed £6 million, but the level of expenditure can be expected to rise in subsequent years as further schemes are developed and allowed by OFGAS.
The Government will be inviting the trust to make proposals for a pilot scheme of local energy efficiency advice centres to provide domestic and small business consumers with the information they will need to respond effectively to these schemes and to Government and other programmes that promote the efficient use of energy. The pilot scheme would be designed whether such centres would be
cost-effective.
Seeboard, South Western Electricity, London Electricity, East Midlands Electricity, Southern Electric, Northern Electric, South Wales Electricity, Midlands Electricity, Manweb, Eastern Electricity and Yorkshire Electricity have all agreed in principle to finance the trust to run schemes to promote the efficient use of electricity, provided the trust can develop acceptable proposals and suitable arrangements for funding can be agreed. Possible areas could include pilot schemes intended to develop the use of heat pump technology to reduce heating costs ; and improve the level of domestic building insulation standards in homes.
The remaining public electricity supply companies in Great Britain have also shown an interest. Further detailed
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discussions will need to take place to establish how best the electricity industry can become involved in the trust. Professor Littlechild has published a consultation document on energy efficiency in the electricity industry, in which he seeks opinions on various options for changing the regulatory regime to provide a stronger incentive towards the more efficient use of energy. The introduction of an "E" factor is one of the options canvassed. This initiative has the potential to make a real contribution to energy efficiency and to protecting the environment, most notably in reducing emissions of carbon dioxide, the principal contributor to the threat of global warming.The Government has also developed a number of related initiatives to improve energy efficiency and so reduce CO emissions. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I have given a commitment to start consultation this year on the strengthening and extension of building regulations. This is likely to cover further improvements in standards of energy efficiency, the strengthening and extension of energy efficiency standards to renovation and conversions--this already applies in Scotland-- and the incorporation of home energy rating into the requirements of the regulations. The Secretary of State for Employment and I have agreed an initiative to encourage training in energy efficiency through recognition of the value of a skilled workforce holding nationally recognised qualifications. The two Departments will promote the development of a body with a leading interest in the development of standards and qualifications in energy efficiency to work with industry lead bodies and others.
Taken together, these measures represent an important step in the development of the Government's policy on energy efficiency as a means of combatting the threat of global warming and meeting the Government's target for limiting CO emissions.
Energy Efficiency
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what matters in regard to energy efficiency and energy conservation he expects to oversee in his Department.
Mr. Maclean [holding answer 12 May 1992] : Improving energy efficiency is the most immediate and cost-effective response to the threat of global warming. I will take a particular interest in ensuring that energy efficiency measures make an appropriate contribution to reducing carbon dioxide emissions.
Zoos
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the number of zoos (a) which have failed to meet his Department's standards of modern zoo practice, under the Zoo Licensing Act 1981, in each year since 1981 and (b) which have lost their licence as a result of such failure.
Mr. Maclean [holding answer 12 May 1992] : The operation of the Zoo Licensing Act 1981 is the responsibility of local authorities. No information on the numbers of zoos failing to meet the required standards or zoos which have lost their licenses is held centrally.
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Nitrous Oxide Emissions
Mrs. Ann Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he intends to take to reduce emissions of nitrous oxide from the nylon manufacturing industry.
Mr. Maclean [holding answer 11 May 1992] : There is only one nylon manufacturing facility in the United Kingdom. After discussions with Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution the operating company has announced its intention virtually to eliminate emissions of nitrous oxide from the plant concerned by 1996.
By 31 July 1993, ICI must apply to Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution for authorisation under part I of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to operate its nylon manufacturing process. Granting of the authorisation will be dependent upon the company putting forward a programme of continuing environmental improvements.
Estuaries
Mr. Win Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the damage to estuaries over the last decade and its implications for estuarial flora and fauna as well as adherence to international wildlife conventions ; and whether he has any proposals for the protection and improvement of estuaries.
Mr. Maclean : United Kingdom estuaries have to provide for many legitimate interests. The Government's planning policy guidance note for coastal planning--at present the subject of public
consultation--emphasises the need for close co-operation between planning authorities to address the complex issues. Specific measures have been instituted where appropriate, for example, the Government view procedure for proposals for aggregates dredging and the introduction of environmental duties under the Transport and Works Act 1992. Many estuaries contain areas of special scientific interest, protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, and special protection areas for birds. The Government are considering the measures necessary to meet its obligations under the recently agreed habitats directive.
Mines (Contamination)
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to amend the Mines and Quarries Act 1954 to make mine owners liable for the cost of clean up of any aquatic or land contamination caused by the mine.
Mr. Baldry : No. The Mines and Quarries Act 1954 is concerned with the health and safety of those working in the industry, not with pollution. All new mines have conditions regulating their operation and restoration, enforceable by local authorities. Derelict land grant is available for reclaiming land at mines which have closed without restoration conditions. The NRA has powers under section 161 of the Water Resources Act 1991 to make remedial action where water pollution has occurred and to recover the cost of taking such action from the person who caused the pollution.
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Renewable Energy
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the ministerial advisory committee on renewable energy will next meet ; when he expects the committee to report ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Eggar : I have been asked to reply.
Future arrangements for the renewable energy advisory group are currently being considered.
Carbon Dioxide
Mr. Win Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, which other countries will have to agree to stabilise their CO emissions at 1990 levels by the year 2000 before the United Kingdom adopts this target ; and what will be the latest date by which these countries will have to indicate their assent for the United Kingdom to take the measures necessary to achieve this emissions target.
Mr. Maclean : The climate change convention agreed in New York on 9 May will commit developed countries to take measures aimed at returning emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases not controlled by the Montreal protocol to their 1990 levels by the year 2000. We have always said that this global problem needs a global response, and we continue to place importance on the willingness of other countries, including our major competitors, to accept the commitments set out in the convention. We expect to be able to ratify the convention, alongside these countries, in good time to take the necessary measures.
Nuclear Waste
Mr. Win Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the progress being made to find a site at which to store intermediate and low-level nuclear waste ; and what estimates have been made of the safety levels at each site and the cost of preparing a site and running it.
Mr. Maclean : UK Nirex Ltd. is responsible for finding a site for the disposal of low and intermediate level radioactive waste. Nirex is concentrating its investigations on an area adjacent to British Nuclear Fuels' Sellafield site and expects to submit an application for planning permission to construct a deep disposal facility before the end of the year. Nirex will need to satisfy the relevant regulatory authorities about the safety of the construction of the facility and the safety of the disposal of the radioactive wastes consigned to it. The cost of developing and running the facility are matters for Nirex.
Coastline
Mr. Win Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, what proposals he has to improve the protection of the coastline and offshore waters ; and when he expects to implement them.
Mr. Maclean : The Government are committed to ensure the effective protection of the coastal and marine environment. It has recently published a draft planning policy guidance note on the coast which proposes strengthened protection. The Government's proposals for
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the coast will be set out more fully in our response to the recent report on coastal zone protection and planning from the Environment Committee of the House of Commons for the Session 1991-92.SOCIAL SECURITY
Water and Sewerage Charges
Mr. David Atkinson : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security in what way the current level of income support takes account of the regional variation in increases in water and sewerage charges ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Burt : Income support is a national benefit and does not take direct account of regional variations in prices. Water and sewerage charges were included in the Rossi index used to uprate income support in April this year, and accordingly benefit rates now reflect more accurately movements in prices for these items.
Pension Funds
Mr. Alex Carlile : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will introduce measures to provide temporary pension payments for Maxwell pensioners whose payments have ceased, pending the outcome of continuing investigations into the activities of Robert Maxwell and others ; and if he will make a statement.
Miss Widdecombe : Existing legislation provides protection for those members of pension schemes who have been contracted out of the state earnings-related pension scheme (SERPS). If any scheme is wound up, there is a statutory provision designed to protect the guaranteed minimum pension which contracted-out schemes are required to provide. If there are not sufficient assets in the scheme to secure that level of pension, the Government ensure through SERPS that scheme members receive a pension equivalent to that which they would have received had they remained in SERPS. If any pensioner is facing financial difficulty and is unsure about his or her state benefit entitlement, he or she should contact the local social security office, which has been alerted to the difficulties that these pensioners face.
Mr. Alex Carlile : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make it his policy to require each pension fund to furnish him with an annual statement on the performance of the fund and on the security of its investments ; and if he will make a statement.
Miss Widdecombe : I refer the hon. Member to my reply to him on 21 January 1992 at column 183.
OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT
Malawi
Mrs. Clwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what measures Her Majesty's Government will be recommending to other members of the Paris Club at the meeting on 14 May, concerning aid to Malawi ;
(2) if he will make a statement on what action Her Majesty's Government will be taking regarding aid to Malawi following the arrest and detention of Chakufwa Chihana.
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Mr. Lennox-Boyd : We and our European partners have made clear to the Malawi Government that future levels of aid will reflect our assessment of Malawi's performance on good government and human rights issues. The treatment of Mr. Chihana is a case in point. The consultative group meeting for Malawi, taking place in Paris under World bank auspices on 11 to 13 May, provides a further opportunity to make our position clear.In the absence of a constructive response to our concerns, we have already told the Malawi authorities that we propose to limit further our development aid to Malawi. We shall, however, confirm that we are ready to consider ways of helping to alleviate the effects of the drought. In the light of consultations prior to the meeting, we anticipate that other donors will adopt a similar approach.
Aid
Mr. Harry Greenway : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much overseas aid is proposed for the current year ; what was the figure for the year to May 1979 ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : Provision for net aid to developing countries in the financial year 1992-93 is £1,831 million. Net aid expenditure in the financial year 1978-79 was £727 million.
Sir Thomas Arnold : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made towards agreeing the future financial basis of the International Fund for Agricultural Development special programme for Africa, and if he will make a statement about the contribution due from the United Kingdom.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : The Governing Council of the International Fund for Agricultural Development IFAD agreed in May 1991 that the special programme for Africa should be extended for a second and final phase. To date, firm pledges totalling almost $20 million have been made by Kuwait, Sweden and Nigeria. Conditional pledges have been made by France, Belgium and the Netherlands.
We made it clear in 1986 that we viewed the special programmes a one-off exercise, justified by the disappointingly low level of resources pledged for IFAD's second replenishment. We consider IFAD's future activities in Africa should now be financed from its regular resources in the same way as its work for other poor regions. The most important priority is to work for a successful outcome to the fourth replenishment of IFAD's resources, discussions on which began in Qatar in April and will continue in Rome in July.
Mr. Battle : To ask the Secretary of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what percentage of (a) bilateral aid and (b) multilateral aid from the United Kingdom goes into (i) health projects, (ii) education projects, (iii) agricultural projects and (iv) commercial ventures.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd [holding answer 11 May 1992] : The amount and shares of bilateral aid allocable by sector spent on projects in the sectors of health, education and agriculture in 1990 (the latest year for which figures are available) were :
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|Amount (£000) |Percentage of
|ilateral aid
|allocable by sector
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Health |61,182 |10.69
Education |103,098 |18.02
Agriculture |52,214 |9.12
In addition, there are some multi-sector projects which also benefit health, education and agriculture. This assistance cannot readily be quantified.
Aid for commercial ventures is not identified in a way which allows aggregate figures to be provided. Much of our programme aid to support economic reform programmes is used to help recipient governments cover the foreign exchange requirement of imports needed to increase capacity utilisation in commercial firms in developing countries. Our bilateral programme aid in 1990 was £73 million. ODA supports small enterprise development. It also supports the reform and privatisation of parastatal bodies and some projects which they implement. The Commonwealth Development Corporation operates in developing countries investing in both private and public sector commercial enterprises and projects. Total CDC investment in 1990 was £137 million.
A comprehensive breakdown of multilateral agencies' expenditure by sector is not available. However certain multilateral agencies specialise in the sectors listed, for example the Food and Agricultural Organisation and the World Health Organisation. I therefore refer the hon. Member to table 8 of "British Aid Statistics" 1986-1990, a copy of which is in the Library of the House. This table gives details of United Kingdom multilateral aid by agency for the last five years.
Earth Summit
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals Her Majesty's Government will be making at the United Nations Conference on Environmental Development meeting in June to enhance environmental protection in developing nations ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : Her Majesty's Government has played a leading role in developing proposals to be discussed at the UNCED (the Earth Summit) during the four preparatory committee meetings held to date, and at the inter-governmental negotiations on the conventions for climate change and biological diversity. The specific proposals to be considered at the Earth Summit are : agreement to global conventions on climate change and biodiversity ; a statement of principles on forests ; a declaration (the Rio declaration) of environmental and development principles ; a comprehensive action plan on environment and development for the next century (agenda 21) and agreement on reinforcement of international institutions dealing with environment and development.
We shall continue to work with other Governments at the Earth Summit in June to reach agreement on the proposals to be considered at that meeting.
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TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Ethnic Minorities
Mr. Janner : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps he has taken to recruit members of ethnic minorities in top grades of employment at his Department.
Mr. Eggar : When, very occasionally, the DTI recruits senior grades directly the advertisements make it clear that the Department is an equal opportunities employer. However, it is normal practice for recruitment to senior grades to be undertaken by the Recruitment and Assessment Services Agency on behalf of the Civil Service Commissioners. A number of steps have been taken in this context to aid the recruitment of members of ethnic minorities including the use of validated selection procedures to ensure that selection is fair and non-discriminatory.
London Stock Exchange
Mr. Chris Smith : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received about the decision of the London stock exchange to contract out its information technology operation to Arthur Andersen ; what implications this decision will have on the forthcoming introduction of paperless trading with Taurus ; what steps he intends to take to assure that the core business of the exchange is properly protected ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Hamilton : My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade has received one representation about the decision of the London stock exchange to contract out its information technology operation.
The implications of the decision for the introduction of Taurus the electronic system for the recording and transfer of title to shares and other securities, are a matter, in the first instance, for the stock exchange. They will be taken into account when the stock exchange seeks consent for the admission of the first securities to Taurus under regulation 5(1) of the Uncertificated Securities Regulations 1992.
Postage Stamps
Mr. Bowis : To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will direct that a set of postage stamps be issued to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the battle of El Alamein on 23 October.
Mr. Leigh : The choice of themes for special stamps is a matter for the Post Office. I understand however that the Post Office Board has approved the issue of a set of stamps in 1994 on the theme of "Liberation" on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of D-day. Further, in 1995, the Post Office in collaboration with other postal administrations of the Conference of European Posts and Telecoms will issue stamps on the theme of "Peace and Freedom" to mark the end of world war 2.
House of Fraser
Mr. Alex Carlile : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the investigations carried out into the takeover of House of Fraser by the Fayed brothers ; and if he will make a statement.
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Mr. Hamilton : Independent inspectors were appointed to investigate the affairs of House of Fraser Holdings plc. They were asked to look in particular at the circumstances surrounding the acquisition of shares in House of Fraser plc in 1984 and 1985.
The inspectors' report, which was published on 7 March 1990, reflects a carefully considered and thorough investigation. Copies of the report were disclosed to other regulatory bodies to enable them to consider under their own powers or rules whether any disciplinary or regulatory action was appropriate. The responsibility for deciding whether to take action in such cases rests with the body concerned.
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