| Previous Section | Home Page |
Column 362
Mr. Macdonald : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what is his Department's policy towards a conditional moratorium on underground nuclear tests ;
(2) what are the implications for the United Kingdom's policy towards nuclear testing of France's decision to undertake a moratorium on all nuclear tests.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister made clear in a written answer on 12 May, at column 90, we have a continuing requirement to sustain a minimum programme of nuclear tests to maintain the effectiveness and safety of our nuclear deterrent.
Mr. Macdonald : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what representations his Department will make to the Russian Government to secure an extension of Russia's one-year moratorium on nuclear tests ;
(2) what assessment he has made of the security implications for the United Kingdom of the Russian moratorium on nuclear tests.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : Russia's nuclear testing requirements are a matter for the Russian Government. There are no immediate implications for United Kingdom policy.
Mr. Macdonald : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his Department's policy towards the conducting of an underground nuclear weapons test by any country other than those of the permanent five of the United Nations Security Council.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : Our policy is to support the non-proliferation treaty, which is the cornerstone of the international nuclear non- proliferation regime.
Mr. Macdonald : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his Department's policy towards the negotiations of a global ban on all sub-strategic nuclear weapons.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : We and our NATO allies believe a sub-strategic nuclear deterrent remains necessary to provide the essential link between conventional and strategic nuclear forces.
Mr. Macdonald : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his Department's policy towards the strengthening of the obligations imposed upon nuclear suppliers under the terms of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : We exercise our supplier obligations under the treaty on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons through our membership of the Zangger committee. We were a founder member of this committee, provide its secretariat and play an active role in its work. We are a strong supporter of strict supplier controls and are also members of the nuclear suppliers' group. Last September we adopted a policy of full-scope safeguards as a condition of nuclear supply.
Mr. Macdonald : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his Department's policy towards banning all nuclear tests by all potential nuclear armed adversaries of the United Kingdom.
Column 363
Mr. Douglas Hogg : The United Kingdom remains committed to a comprehensive test ban--CTB--as a long-term goal. However, we have continuing requirement to sustain a minimum programme of nuclear tests, and problems of effectively verifying a CTB remain. Progress can therefore be made only on a step-by-step basis.Mr. Macdonald : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if his Department will accept (a) a testing quota or (b) a lower threshold limit on the United Kingdom's nuclear weapons testing programme.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : The United Kingdom's nuclear test programme is the minimum necessary to ensure the safety and effectiveness of our nuclear deterrent. Our requirements are kept under review.
Advertising
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give separate figures for the spending by his Department on (a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) newspaper advertising and (d) other promotional material in 1979-80 and in each following year up to and including 1991-92 ; and what is his latest estimate for 1992-93.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : Total expenditure by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on advertising and other promotional material for the years 1979-80 to 1991-92, and latest estimates for 1992-93 are :
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
|Diplomatic |Overseas
|wing |Development
|Aid wing
|(£) |(£)
------------------------------------------------
1979-80 |100,266 |214,739
1980-81 |116,532 |145,697
1981-82 |162,998 |207,964
1982-83 |229,711 |135,506
1983-84 |205,247 |252,691
1984-85 |149,932 |234,050
1985-86 |160,535 |271,084
1986-87 |335,754 |228,347
1987-88 |195,000 |351,000
1988-89 |289,184 |689,631
1989-90 |395,842 |1,066,447
1990-91 |926,610 |902,000
1991-92 |755,000 |1,031,000
1992-93 |754,000 |1,057,000
These figures cannot be disaggregated to identify the medium used without incurring disproportionate cost.
Medjugorje
Mr. Alton : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Serbian Government about the bombing of Medjugorje ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : We supported UN Resolution 752 which demanded that all concerned should stop the fighting in Bosnia and Herzegovina immediately.
Yugoslavia
Mr. Deva : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations his Department has made to the Croatian Government
Column 364
following attacks against the withdrawing Yugoslav Federal Army on 20 and 21 May ; if he will seek assurances that Croatian forces will allow the Yugoslav Federal Army to retire to Serbia unmolested ; and what guarantee he will require from the Croatian Government for the remaining Serbian population of Croatia.Mr. Douglas Hogg : We deplore all acts of violence in Croatia, particularly those which contravene agreements with the UN. It is an essential part of the agreement covering the deployment of the UN protection force that the JNA should withdraw from the protected areas. We are scrutinising the new legislation passed on 8 May to ascertain whether it provides the necessary guarantees for minorities.
Cyprus
Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Turkish Cypriots have been consulted about the application of Cyprus to join the European Community ; whether the Turkish Cypriots support this application ; and whether the United Kingdom supports this application.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : The Council of Ministers referred the application to the Commission for opinion in September 1990. We understand that Commission officials will consult acknowledged leaders of the Turkish Cypriot community. We will study the Commission's opinion carefully before reaching conclusions.
Bosnia
Mr. Deva : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations Her Majesty's Government will make to the Bosnian Government regarding the drafting of a new constitution and specifically on the future right of secession and self-determination.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : We strongly support the efforts of Lord Carrington and Ambassador Cutileiro to draw up constitutional arrangements acceptable to all parties. We look forward to the speedy resumption of these talks.
Croatia
Mr. Deva : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations Her Majesty's Government are making to the Croatian Government regarding the recruitment of British mercenaries.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : We have seen media reports that British citizens are fighting as mercenaries in Croatia. We deplore any foreign encouragement of this tragic conflict.
European Union
Mr. Spearing : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, in respect to the proposed amendments to the treaty of Rome proposed in title II of the treaty on European union, he will place in the Library a document showing for each of the current articles proposed to be amended, using distinctive type and deletion marks respectively, the changes proposed to each relevant article.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : Title II of the treaty on European union, when read against the treaty of Rome, makes clear
Column 365
how the latter treaty is to be amended : new articles are to be "inserted", certain articles are to be "repealed" and articles which are to be amended are "replaced" by new versions of the existing articles. The last category contains all the amendments to which the hon. Member refers. As was explained by my right hon. Friend in a letter to the hon. Member on 18 May, the Government do not intend to publish a consolidated version of the treaty of Rome as amended by the treaty on European union prior to the latter's entry into force. A copy of the letter was placed in the Library of the House.Mr. Spearing : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will specify those other provisions of the treaty on European union, in the Cm. 1934 version, other than titles II, III and IV, which relate to those titles.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : The question raised by the hon. Member is covered in the notes on clauses relating to the European Communities (Amendment) Bill which are available in the Vote Office.
British Embassies
Mr. Barry Field : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those British embassies which have desk-top communications for (a) their own purposes and (b) commercial and trade purposes.
Mr. Goodlad : Of the 230 British overseas posts where there are resident United Kingdom-based staff, all but 15 have computer systems which can be used both for their own internal purposes and to store and process commercial and trade data.
Diplomatic Services
Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in which countries the United Kingdom provides diplomatic services for other European Community nations.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : Under an informal arrangement made in 1985, the diplomatic missions of European Community member states may provide consular assistance to unrepresented EC nationals in non-Community countries.
Dependent Territories
Mr. Barry Field : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the performance monitoring organisations used by United Kingdom dependent territories to monitor the performance of their equity investment advisers and the performance of their equity investment.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : Responsibility for monitoring the performance of the investments and investments advisers of the United Kingdom's dependent territories rests with the Minister of Finance, or equivalent official, of each territory. These investments are also subject to scrutiny by an officer responsible for the public audit of each territory, and by the legislature or equivalent body, as appropriate.
Mr. Barry Field : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish a
Column 366
league table showing the percentage increase or decrease of each of the dependent territories' equity investments over the last five years.Mr. Lennox-Boyd : This information is not centrally recorded. It would incur a disproportionate cost to collate it.
St. Helena
Dr. Marek : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list all recipients of licences to fish within the 12-mile limit off St. Helena.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : All recipients of licences are local St. Helena boat owners. Twenty-seven licences have been issued in 1992 of which 18 are for full-time fishing, five for occasional fishing and four for sport.
I shall write shortly to the hon. Member with a full list of the holders of the licences.
ENVIRONMENT
Private Lettings
Mr. Raynsford : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give further details of the nature of the proposed rent-a-room scheme and his estimate of the number of new lettings which might be brought into existence through this scheme in a full year.
Mr. Nigel Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to introduce more tax advantages for private lettings.
Mr. Dorrell : I have been asked to reply.
The Conservative election manifesto included an undertaking to introduce a new rent a room' scheme under which home owners will be able to let rooms to lodgers without having to pay tax on the rent they receive. This matter is under consideration.
Marsham Street Premises
Mr. Spearing : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will state, or give reference to any document describing, the full reasons why it is considered the best value for money to demolish the Government premises in Marsham street ; what was the date of their completion ; and what necessary work, and approximate cost, would be required to render them fit for office reoccupation.
Mr. Howard : The Government building at 2 Marsham street, which was first occupied in 1970, is in need of major repair. Because of the scale of necessary remedial work, a wide range of alternative options was reviewed, based on advice from Arup Associates. The options ranged from immediate repairs, through various levels of refurbishment to demolition. Demolition proved to be the best value for money, when the overall costs of each option were compared. The repair option with the lowest initial cost consisted primarily of remedial work to concrete, replacement of windows and decoration of affected areas. It would involve a substantial programme of decanting staff for several years and would cost about £50 million, over and above routine maintenance and running costs. This would do no
Column 367
more than keep the building going. Similar expenditure and further decanting would be required within 10 years to replace obsolete services and carry out further concrete repairs. Upgrading the building to allow greater use of modern office technology, more efficient energy consumption and better use of space would be more expensive still.Ozone-depleting Chemicals
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the outcome of the international meeting of Government experts held in Geneva during April on strategies to accelerate the phase out of ozone-depleting chemicals.
Mr. Maclean : This meeting provided the opportunity for parties to the Montreal protocol to propose changes to the protocol which might be agreed at the fourth meeting of the parties, to be held in November in Copenhagen. Proposals put forward included those from the EC, on which the Government provided explanatory memorandum 5162/92 on 21 May 1992. Substantive discussion of the various changes proposed will take place at the next meeting, to be held next month in Geneva.
Housing Associations
Mr. Raynsford : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table showing his estimate of the percentage of the net income of housing association tenants which would on average be taken by their rent, broken down on a regional basis in each of the years from 1979 to 1991.
Mr. Baldry : The Department does not compile this information. Information is, however, available from the National Federation of Housing Associations. The NFHA collects information relating to new housing association tenancies, and has published regional data on weekly rent as a percentage of weekly income in its CORE quarterly bulletin since the end of 1989.
The relevant copies of the bulletin are in the House of Commons Library.
London Docklands
Mr. Blunkett : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table indicating, for each year since 1981, at current prices, the amount of money the Government have provided for all private investors in London docklands, in terms of (a) direct subsidies, (b) tax allowances, (c) rates relief and (d) discounted land sales.
Mr. Redwood : Figures relating to direct subsidies (a) and to rate relief (c) are as follows :
£ thousands
|(a) Direct|(c) Rate
|subsidies |relief
--------------------------------------------
1981-82 |215 |-
1982-83 |351 |2,091
1983-84 |304 |2,401
1984-85 |324 |3,587
1985-86 |600 |3,353
1986-87 |739 |4,186
1987-88 |493 |8,562
1988-89 |199 |9,596
1989-90 |263 |15,018
1990-91 |216 |<1>-
1991-92 |221 |<1>-
<1> Not available.
(a) Direct subsidies-Financial assistance
by the Corporation for industry in
Docklands, including relocation and
modernisation grants;
(b) Tax allowances-Data is not available
for capital allowances paid in respect of
individual Enterprise Zones, such as the
Isle of Dogs;
(c) Rate relief-Reimbursement for local
authorities in Enterprise Zones for loss of
rates revenue;
(d) Discounted land sales-The London
Docklands Development Corporation is
expected to achieve market price for land
disposals.
London Docklands
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what study he has made of the costs and benefits of moving substantial elements of his and other Departments' operations to docklands ; and if he will publish details of its findings.
Mr. Howard [holding answer 22 May 1992] : Following the decision announced on 6 February to demolish the headquarters building of my Department at 2 Marsham Street, my predecessor asked officials to draw up proposals for moving a substantial number of this Department's HQ posts away from central Westminster to another London location. In particular, he said that he was considering establishing a substantial departmental presence in docklands. An analysis of the properties available and the overall market position indicates that in terms of cost, quality and suitability docklands currently offers the best option. Further work is in hand.
I have made no analysis of any relocation proposals of other Departments.
Poisons
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the proposal by the European Commission that poisonous materials on the green list of wastes for recovery prepared by the OECD should not be regulated by Community law.
Mr. Maclean : Green list wastes do not exhibit any of the hazardous characteristics listed in OECD Council decision C(88)90(final). Under Community law all waste recovery must be carried out at an authorised facility. Movements of green list wastes within OECD are subject to normal commercial controls. The Government consider that any general imposition of additional controls on movements of such wastes outside OECD would be a discriminatory measure in breach of our international obligations under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade.
Housing
Mr. Raynsford : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table setting out the average rent level, region by region, for housing association lettings in each of the years from 1979 to 1991, identifying assured tenancy rents separately from the fair
Column 369
rents from 1989 onwards and indicating the annual percentage increase in rents in each year by comparison with the retail price index.Mr. Baldry : Complete information on housing association rents is not available in the form requested.
Column 370
The following statistics show fair rents registered for housing association tenants in the years 1981 to 1991, and assured tenancy rents for new lettings made in 1990 and 1991. As registered fair rents are fixed for two years the changes between the annual averages below are not comparable with the increases in the RPI.Column 369
Housing Association unfurnished tenancies: average fair rents registered<1>
£/week including service charges
|1981 |1982 |1983 |1984 |1985 |1986 |1987 |1988 |1989 |1990 |1991
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northern |11.09|13.86|15.09|17.83|17.74|20.48|20.40|23.06|23.12|26.85|28.71
Yorkshire and Humberside |13.83|15.27|16.68|17.80|18.75|20.60|21.81|23.75|25.77|29.10|31.63
East Midlands |15.03|16.60|17.77|19.37|20.20|22.21|23.37|25.50|26.56|30.13|32.08
East Anglia |15.25|15.91|17.72|18.68|20.51|21.57|23.29|25.25|27.40|29.12|33.73
Greater London |14.63|15.98|17.67|19.44|20.76|22.25|24.62|26.35|28.96|32.23|35.94
Rest of South East |16.98|18.35|20.48|21.32|23.53|25.12|26.77|28.97|30.90|34.85|38.10
South West |15.73|17.07|19.07|20.40|22.17|24.10|26.33|28.63|32.00|36.06|39.88
West Midlands |14.19|15.00|16.72|17.52|18.76|20.02|21.35|23.35|24.92|27.73|30.37
North West |12.03|13.35|14.80|16.06|16.79|18.48|19.48|21.34|22.79|24.75|26.50
RPI: annual increase per cent. |12 |9 |5 |5 |6 |3 |4 |5 |8 |9 |6
<1> The regional averages are for fair rents registered during the calender year and as rents are
normally only registered every two years they do not reflect the average for all tenancies in
existence during that year
Source: Rent Officers' Survey.
Housing association assured tenancies: average rent for lettings
made in the year
£/week including service charges
|1990 |1991 |Percentage
|increase
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Northern |31.50 |34.00 |8
Yorkshire and Humberside |31.50 |36.50 |16
East Midlands |34.00 |37.50 |10
East Anglia |33.50 |36.50 |9
Greater London |37.00 |43.50 |18
Rest of South East |37.00 |42.00 |14
South West |37.50 |43.00 |15
West Midlands |33.00 |38.00 |15
North West |31.00 |34.50 |11
Source: National Federation of Housing Associations.
Woodlands
Mr. Win Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about changes affecting the area of ancient semi-natural woodland since 1962.
Mr. Maclean : Details of changes since 1962 are not available. However, the former Nature Conservancy Council's--now English Nature's-- ancient woodland inventory shows that in England and Wales, of the area of ancient woodland present in 1930, 38 per cent. has been replaced by plantations usually of non-native species and 7 per cent. has been cleared for other land uses. The Government's broadleaves policy, the changes to the criteria for felling licences, introduced in 1984 and 1985 and the more recent woodland management scheme have resulted in a marked reduction in the rate of change.
Mr. Win Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it part of his planning policy to prevent any further loss of ancient semi-natural woodland.
Mr. Maclean : The felling of woodland is not a development under the town and country planning system. The protection of ancient woodland will however be a material consideration in preparing development plans and determining planning applications. Felling which is
Column 370
undertaken other than for development purposes is effectively controlled through the felling licence system administered by the Forestry Commission. Sites of special scientific interest which may include ancient woodland are given particular protection and development in or near them is strictly controlled.Housing Repossessions
Mr. Raynsford : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 15 May, Official Report, columns 238-39, what statistical information is available to support his expectation that the number of repossessions will reduce in 1992.
Mr. Baldry : A number of building societies have reported reductions in the numbers of repossessions this year and figures published by the Lord Chancellor's Department show a decline in the number of court actions entered for possession in England and Wales, in the first quarter of 1992.
Urban Programme
Mrs. Helen Jackson : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what funds have been allotted to the Yorkshire-Humberside area this year, last year and the previous year for urban programme fund projects.
Mr. Robin Squire : Total urban programme resources allocated to local authorities in the Yorkshire Humberside region this year, last year and the previous year are as follows :
-
|£ million
------------------------------
1990-91 |<1>30.291
1991-92 |<1>34.207
1992-93 | 28.009
<1> included supplementary
allocations of £2.18 million
in 1990-91 and £4.75 million
in 1991-92 for special
projects in Sheffield.
Mrs. Helen Jackson : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if the establishment of the urban regeneration agency will be achieved without any reduction in moneys at present allotted to the urban programme.
Column 371
Mr. Robin Squire : The responsibilities of the URA have yet to be finalised, but I do not expect its establishment to affect future financial provision for the urban programme.Conservation Areas
Mr. Barry Field : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish his programme for the establishment of special areas for conservation.
Mr. Maclean : The EC habitats directive sets out the programme for establishing special areas of conservation for all member states. It requires each member state to prepare a national list within three years of the notification of the directive. Within six years of notification, the Commission, in agreement with each member state, shall establish a draft list of sites of Community importance drawn from the national lists. Once a site has been adopted as a site of Community importance, the member state concerned has a maximum of six years thereafter to effect its designation as a special area of conservation. I shall ensure that the United Kingdom complies with this programme.
Caravan Sites Act 1968
Mr. Luff : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what organisations he intends to consult in his review of the Caravan Sites Act 1968 ; and whether individuals will be offered the opportunity of contributing to the review ;
(2) what will be the terms of reference, membership and composition of the Caravan Sites Act 1968 review team ;
(3) when the review of the Caravan Sites Act 1968 will be completed.
Mr. Baldry : The Government have in hand a review of the operation of the Caravan Sites Act 1968, with the aim of reducing the nuisance of illegal encampments. We hope to issue shortly a public consultation paper containing our proposals for reform ; and comments from individuals will be welcome.
Packaging Waste
Mr. Paice : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek from the EC Commission a statement of the evidence for the assertion in the draft packaging directive that packaging waste contributes in a great proportion to the increase in the volume of wastes and to the saturation of landfills.
Mr. Maclean : The Commission has not yet produced a proposal for a directive, so it would be premature to comment at this stage on the possible contents.
Mr. Paice : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on the extent to which packaging waste as a proportion of household waste has changed over the last five years.
Mr. Maclean : Information on the extent to which packaging contributes to household waste has been collected only in a few recent studies. There is therefore insufficient data on which to assess changes over a period of time.
The national household waste analysis project, currently being undertaken by Warren Spring laboratory
Column 372
and Aspinwalls on behalf of my Department, has been set up to provide better and more detailed information on the composition of household waste. The first results should be available later this year.Public Opinion Surveys
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the public opinion surveys carried out by his Department since 1 November 1991.
Mr. Howard : The following surveys, carried out by my Department since 1 November 1991, include questions to individuals about their opinions :
Monitoring the new local authority performance regime.
Housing Attitudes Survey.
English House Conditions Survey : Interview survey of Householders.
Surveys on the housing needs of elderly people :
(a) Survey of residents of special needs housing.
(b) Survey of elderly people on waiting lists for special needs housing.
(c) Housing needs of non-elderly, disabled people in the community.
Ventilation in new homes.
Householders' response to Radon in the home.
Energy Efficiency Campaign--Creative Development Research [Stage 3] (jointly sponsored with the Department of Energy).
Energy Efficiency Campaign Evaluation (jointly sponsored with the Department of Energy).
| Next Section
| Home Page |