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Written Answers to Questions
Friday 26 June 1992
ENVIRONMENT
Non-native Species
Mr. Dafis : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made by his Department in promoting the adoption and enforcement of measures to prevent the release into the wild of non-native species of animals, plants and pathogens.
Mr. Maclean : Section 14 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 makes it illegal to release non-native and certain listed animals into the wild and to plant or cause to grow in the wild certain listed plants. The lists of both animals and plants were extended earlier this year. Part VI of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 introduced new provisions to prevent or minimise environmental damage arising from an escape or release of genetically modified organisms into the environment. Regulations under these provisions will be made shortly.
River Ver
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps his Department has taken to restore the ecological balance of the River Ver in Hertfordshire.
Mr. Maclean : The responsibilities and powers to take action for this purpose rest with the National Rivers Authority. My Department has approved the expenditure required for its proposals.
Carbon Dioxide
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans were submitted by Her Majesty's Government to the European Commission by 1 April about the United Kingdom's strategy for stabilising its carbon dioxide emissions by 2005.
Mr. Maclean : The Government sent the Commission a copy of the Environment White Paper (Cm 1200) when it was published in 1990. This set out the United Kingdom's strategy and a first set of measures to limit CO emissions. A further report was sent to the Commission last month, updating the White Paper and the first year report (Cm 1655) in the light of the United Kingdom's revised conditional target for CO emissions and further decisions on measures to limit emission including the announcement of the establishment of an energy saving trust. The report has been placed in the Library of the House.
Waste Shipments
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will make a statement on the reasons why the European Environment Council did not conclude an agreement on the proposed Commission regulation on
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the supervision and control of shipments of waste within, into and out of the European Community at its meeting on 26 May ; and what efforts he intends to make to ensure the conclusion of a satisfactory agreement at an early date ;(2) if he will set out each of the reservations held by Her Majesty's Government on the amended draft EC regulation, COM (92)121 final, on the supervision and control of shipments of waste within, into and out of the European Community.
Mr. Maclean : I refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment gave to the hon. Member for Somerton and Frome (Mr. Robinson) on 3 June at column 544 . I also refer the hon. Member to my Department's explanatory memorandum on this amended proposal. A copy of the memorandum has been placed in the Library of the House.
Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he is taking to bring about an immediate reduction of waste importation for illegal disposal ; and what action he proposes to prevent importation for illegal disposal in the long term.
Mr. Maclean [holding answer 25 June 1992] : The Transfrontier Shipment of Hazardous Waste Regulations 1988 make it an offence to import waste in breach of the regulations and allow competent authorities to object to any shipments which might lead to a breach of controls over disposal. The draft EC Waste Shipments Regulation would extend and improve these controls. It includes a requirement for any shipment which contravenes the regulation to be taken back. If the hon. Member has any information about wastes currently being imported for illegal disposal then I should be glad to receive it.
Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many sites within (a) England and (b) Yorkshire and Humberside receive imported toxic waste ; and if he will identify the sites and state the level of toxic waste disposed of at each site for the last year in which figures are available.
Mr. Maclean [holding answer 25 June 1992] : Some 18 companies in England, including one in west Yorkshire, received imported hazardous waste (as notified under the Transfrontier Shipment of Hazardous Waste Regulations 1988) in the financial year 1991-92. The details are as follows :
Company and location |Waste |Quantity
|disposal |(tonnes)
|authority
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Biffa Waste Services Ltd., Bray |Berkshire |333
Chemical Mfg. and Refining Ltd., Rye |East Sussex |31
Cleanaway Ltd., Ellesmere Port |Cheshire |1,178
Collier Industrial Waste Ltd., Trafford Park |Greater Manchester |6,735
DP Effluent Treatment Ltd., Runcorn |Cheshire |185
Gelpke and Bate Ltd., Rye |East Sussex |16
Grosvenor Power Service, Carrington |Greater Manchester |80
Grundon Waste Ltd., ColnbrookBuckinghamshire |927
ICI Chemicals and Polymers, Runcorn |Cheshire |3,721
Lancashire Tar Distillers, Cadishead |Greater Manchester |2,047
Lanstar Waste Treatment, Cadishead |Greater Manchester |9,534
Leigh Environmental Ltd., Trafford Park |Greater Manchester |4,441
Polymeric Treatment Ltd., Walsall |West Midlands |3,192
Progressive Waste Ltd., Trafford Park |Greater Manchester |1,867
Rechem (Southampton) Ltd., Fawley |Hampshire |5,629
Solrec Ltd., Morecambe |Lancashire |19
Thornton Processing Ltd., Bradford |West Yorkshire |3
Triton Transformer Services Ltd., Newark |Nottinghamshire |578
Departmental Policies
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what new policies or initiatives he announced in (a) his address to the Royal Society of Arts on 28 May and (b) his interview with Brian Walden on independent television on 7 June.
Mr. Howard : No new initiatives were announced on either occasion.
Ozone-depleting Chemicals
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what figures he has for the total purchases of each of CFCs, HCFCs, methyl chloroform, halons and carbon tetrachloride by Her Majesty's government for the latest year for which figures are available ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Maclean : This information is not available.
Water Companies
Mrs. Gillan : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had with the chairman of OFWAT about the number of service companies in which the water companies have acquired an interest or which they have bought out since privatisation ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Maclean : The director-general's role is to regulate the activities of the companies appointed as water or sewerage undertakers. He has no statutory powers in relation to any group holding company or any other company within a group. However, under the Water Industry Act 1991 the funds of the core water and sewerage businesses are ring-fenced and must be kept separate from any other activities. This separation is reinforced by section 50 of the Competition and Service (Utilities) Act 1992, which takes effect on 1 July. The director-general will now have a specific duty to ensure that customers' interests are protected as respects any activities outside the core business, in particular by securing that transactions between core and associated companies are undertaken at arm's length. He is in the process of introducing measures to enable him to fulfil this duty.
Litter
Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the prosecutions of local authorities which have been successfully undertaken under the litter code.
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Mr. Maclean : Information on the number of litter abatement orders obtained is not held centrally. However, the Tidy Britain Group undertakes regular surveys of local authorities to monitor the implementation of part IV of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. The latest survey was carried out in March this year. Nine out of 419 authorities surveyed reported that they had been served with a litter abatement order. Forty-six authorities reported that they had been notified of an intention to bring a prosecution under part IV. In most cases litter abatement orders would not be necessary because the litter would have been cleared away before the case came to court.
Housing Land
Mr. Hicks : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the regulations governing the use of derelict land grants and similar financial assistance for reclaiming former mining areas and land liable to subsidence for housing purposes ; what involvement his Department has in such projects ; and if he will state the criteria that local authorities are required to follow in implementing such schemes.
Mr. Baldry : The use of derelict land grant (DLG) is governed by rules based on the provisions of the Derelict Land Act 1982, and guidance issued by Her Majesty's Treasury. Under these rules the Department makes grant available to local authorities, private firms and individuals, and voluntary organisations for the reclamation of derelict land. Local authorities and other persons seeking grant should contact the appropriate regional office of the Department for advice on the availability of grant for particular schemes.
Local Authorities (Management)
Lady Olga Maitland : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will publish the responses to his Department's consultation paper "Internal Management of Local Authorities in England", and whether he will make a statement.
Mr. Howard : I have placed a list of the respondents in the Library of the House and have made copies of the responses available to the Library.
The consultation document produced a number of positive and interested reactions, and confirmed me in the view that there is scope for internal management changes which would make for better and more effective local government. I have today invited the three main local authority associations, the Audit Commission, Dr. Michael Clarke of the Local Government Management Board and Professor George Jones to join a working party chaired by my Department with a remit to :
Consider the suggestions for improving internal management arrangements in response to the consultation paper ;
consult individual authorities supporting new management models ; work up detailed options suitable for trial by volunteering authorities, including adequate safeguards to protect minority parties and to secure value for money and propriety ; and to draw up a list of any changes to primary and secondary legislation which would be needed to enable such experiments to take place.
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Property Services Agency
Mr. Clifton-Brown : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what arrangements he proposes to safeguard staff redundancy entitlements in the event of the bankruptcy of a purchaser of a PSA business.
Mr. Redwood : In the event of the purchaser's bankruptcy within five years of the sale the Government will make up any shortfall in the redundancy payments due to civil servants who transferred with the business. This will however be subject to total redundancy payments not exceeding the amount individuals would have received had they been made redundant at the point of sale uprated to allow for inflation.
Departmental Accommodation
Mr. Nigel Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much he is spending on the rental of accommodation in London for his Department ; and what is the highest rental charge he is paying per square foot for accommodation.
Mr. Howard [holding answer 23 June 1992] : It is not policy to reveal the open market rents negotiated by Government for its office accommodation as these are commercially confidential. However, the internal charge paid by my Department for its central London offices includes £10,625,159 per annum (exclusive of VAT) as the assessed rent based on open market values. The highest assessed charge per square foot is £19.61.
Wild Birds
Mr. Steen : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will declare more special protection areas under the EC directive on the conservation of wild birds.
Mr. Maclean [holding answer 24 June 1992] : The Government are firmly committed to an accelerated SPA designation programme. Minsmere- Walberswick in Suffolk was designated on 19 May and four sites were designated in Gwynedd as recently as 10 June. I expect to make further designations soon.
Local Authority Housing
Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total number of local authority housing tenancies available within (a) England and (b) Yorkshire and Humberside, annually for the years 1980 to 1991.
Mr. Baldry [holding answer 25 June 1992] : The information derived from local authorities' annual housing investment programme returns is as follows.
|c|Local authority dwellings either|c|
|c|occupied or available for letting|c|
|c|at 1 April each year|c|
Thousands
|England |Yorkshire and
|Humberside
--------------------------------------------------------
1980 |4,667 |582
1981 |4,815 |588
1982 |4,719 |580
1983 |4,576 |559
1984 |4,477 |550
1985 |4,425 |544
1986 |4,356 |537
1987 |4,325 |531
1988 |4,242 |520
1989 |4,098 |505
1990 |3,959 |485
1991 |3,835 |473
Notes:
(1)The figures for the years up to 1986 do not include
local authority owned dwellings situated outside the
authoritys own area.
(2)The information up to 1982 also excludes local
authority dwellings available for letting.
Waste Production Sites
Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce measures permitting waste regulation authorities to visit waste production sites, within the area of the authority, and examine waste intended for reclamation and take samples for analysis.
Mr. Maclean [holding answer 25 June 1992] : Waste regulation authorities have powers under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to enter premises in their areas where any controlled waste (whether or not it is to be recycled) is kept, treated or deposited, and carry out investigations and to take samples.
Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what powers are available enabling waste regulation authorities to check if the waste production sites within their area have appropriate licences.
Mr. Maclean [holding answer 25 June 1992] : Waste disposal authorities are the bodies which, under the Control of Pollution Act 1974, are responsible for issuing and enforcing waste disposal licences. Under that Act, these authorities are empowered to enter premises in their area to determine whether or not a waste disposal licence is required in respect of a particular activity ; they may also serve a notice to obtain information needed to reach such a determination.
Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will introduce measures requiring all producers of recyclable waste to inform waste regulatory authorities in that area of production, of the exact chemical composition of waste, certified by an independent, competent chemist ;
(2) if he will require all producers of recyclable waste to send a copy of a chemical analysis, and other relevant details, which have been verified by the waste regulation authority for the area of production, to the waste regulation authorities receiving the waste for disposal.
Mr. Maclean [holding answer 20 June 1992] : The Secretary of State has no intention of introducing such measures. Regulation of waste management activities is necessary to avoid pollution of the environment and harm to human health. However, any such regulation must be sensibly designed to minimise burdens on industry and to promote recycling wherever this is consistent with environmental protection objectives.
As part of the duty of care on holders of controlled waste introduced on 1 April, any waste regulation
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authority may seek access to records (including descriptions) of waste transferred from producers' premises. Such descriptions must contain sufficient information to enable the waste to be dealt with safely and legally. The inclusion of a full chemical analysis will not always be necessary for this purpose.Waste Processing
Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will take steps to ensure that (a) importers of waste, (b) producers of recyclable waste, (c) carriers of waste and (d) those who treat or dispose of waste, notify receiving waste regulation authorities before they begin relevant contract work ; (2) if he will empower receiving waste regulation authorities to halt the disposal, recycling or reclamation of waste when (a) importers of waste, (b) producers of recyclable waste, (c) carriers of waste or (d) those who treat or dispose of waste, fail to notify receiving waste regulation authorities before they begin relevant contract work.
Mr. Maclean [holding answer 25 June 1992] :] The Environmental Protection Act 1990 provides substantially enhanced powers for waste regulation authorities over and above those currently available to waste disposal authorities under the Control of Pollution Act 1974. Beyond implementing the provisions of the 1990 Act, the Secretary of State has at present no plans to amend or extend the powers of waste regulation authorities in respect of the disposal, carrying, recycling or reclamation of waste.
Under requirements imposed by the Control of Pollution (Amendment) Act 1989, carriers of controlled waste are required to register with the relevant waste regulation authority.
Waste regulation authorities will be able to monitor through their licensing functions activities involving the treatment, keeping, recycling, reclamation and disposal of controlled waste.
Authorities have powers to take action, including requiring the cessation of operations, where such activities are being carried on in a manner likely to cause pollution or harm, or are not in compliance with licence conditions.
With reference to imports of waste, a draft EC regulation on movements of waste would require financial guarantees or insurance to cover failed and illegal consignments, and would introduce provisions to secure the return or disposal of waste in such circumstances.
EDUCATION
Outside School Education
Mr. Don Foster : To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many children between the ages and five and 16 receive their education outside school ; and what percentage of the total five to 16-year-olds population this figure represents.
Mr. Forth : In January 1991, some 6,000 children aged five to 15 were receiving education in England otherwise than at school under arrangements made by local education authorities. This represents less than 0.1 per cent. of the total population aged five to 15.
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Equal Opportunities
Mr. Janner : To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many and what percentage of officers in grades 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 respectively and overall in his Department are women.
Mr. Forman : The number and percentage of women in post in each grade requested and the overall number in the Department are as follows :
<
|Number of |Per cent women
|women in grade
------------------------------------------------------------
Grade 1-3 |0 |0
Grade 4 |3 |33.3
Grade 5 |25 |21.9
Grade 6 |113 |28.3
Grade 7 |50 |28.9
Overall |1,565 |55.4
The figures include staff in the Teachers Pensions Agency, of which the chief executive (grade 5) is a woman. They also include 386 HMI, of whom the majority together with their support staff will transfer to the Office of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, which is to be constituted as a separate non-ministerial department from 1 September 1992.
Schools, Calderdale
Mrs. Mahon : To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he received a copy of the report of the Calderdale education department concerning Ashtree infants school, Mixenden junior school and Stanningley Green junior school ; what response he is making to the report ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Forth : We have not seen this report. I understand that it was commissioned by Calderdale education authority and is addressed to the governing bodies of the schools. It is for the governors and Calderdale LEA to decide what, if any, further action needs to be taken in the light of the report's findings.
Grant-maintained Schools
Mr. Blunkett : To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many civil servants have been allocated to support and monitor the operation of grant-maintained schools in England ; and how many grant maintained schools existed as at 22 June.
Mr. Forth : As of 22 June, there were 73 civil servants working specifically on the support and monitoring of grant-maintained schools. There were 217 grant-maintained schools operating with a further 49 approved.
Higher Education
Mr. Madden : To ask the Secretary of State for Education what reports he has received about the drop-out rate of students from higher education in the United Kingdom.
Mr. Forman : Details of non-completion of higher education courses can be found in "University Mangement Statistics and Performance Indicators in the UK", published last year by the Committee of
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Vice-Chancellors and Principals and the Universities Funding Council, and "Leaving Rates among First Year Students in English Polytechnics and Colleges", a Department for Education statistical bulletin published earlier this month. The Library has copies of both reports.The available evidence suggests that completion rates haved remained relatively stable during the 1980s. No particular trend has emerged. International comparisons indicate that the United Kingdom has one of the highest ratios of qualifiers to new entrants in Europe.
Technology Schools Initiative
Mr. Pawsey : To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he intends to extend the technology schools initiative ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Patten : I am delighted to confirm that we will be making a further round of allocations for 1993-94 under the technology schools initiative. We will be inviting capital bids in the circular letter to be issued to local education authorities shortly. Grant maintained schools will be invited to bid later in the summer. The first round of the initiative has proved very popular. We have made allocations to 100 schools to enhance their technology teaching and offer courses with a strong vocational emphasis. We will extend this network in 1993-94 by making further allocations to maintained schools with the potential for excellence in technology. We intend to foster diversity in schools : this round of the initiative will further increase the choices available to pupils and parents.
Postgraduates (Grants)
Mr. Bowis : To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will announce the postgraduate bursary and studentship rates payable by his Department for the academic year 1992-93.
Mr. Forman : The main maintenance rates under the Department's own postgraduate awards scheme for certain professional and vocational courses in the academic year 1992-93 will be as follows (1991-92 rates are shown in brackets) :
|£ |£
--------------------------------------
Bursaries
London |3,085 |(2,950)
Elsewhere |2,435 |(2,330)
Parental home |1,840 |(1,760)
Studentships
London |5,195 |(4,970)
Elsewhere |4,130 |(3,950)
Parental home |3,045 |(2,915)
These represent increases of about 4.5 per cent. on the current year's rates. The relevant supplementary allowances will be increased broadly in line.
LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT
Legal Aid
Mr. Bermingham : To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is his policy with regard to the granting of legal representation in criminal cases where a defendant's liberty is at risk.
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Mr. John M. Taylor : It is for the courts to decide whether to grant criminal legal aid in accordance with the statutory criteria laid down in the Legal Aid Act 1988. One of the factors to be taken into account in determining whether it is in the interests of justice that legal aid for representation be granted is whether the offence is such that, if proved, it is likely that the court would impose a sentence which would deprive the accused of his liberty.
Mr. Bermingham : To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will set out the charges which are classified as less serious charges, susceptible to refusal of legal aid under the new arrangements ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. John M. Taylor : I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave him on 19 June 1992, Official Report, column 681 .
Magistrates Courts
Mr. Blunkett : To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what representations he has received about the rate at which magistrates courts are able to deal with poll tax enforcement cases.
Mr. John M. Taylor : I have received a small number of representations from local authorities.
Mr. Blunkett : To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what estimate he has made of the income to be raised from local authorities for fees in relation to community charge under the Magistrates Courts Fees (Amendment) Order 1992.
Mr. John M. Taylor : The current estimate is that fees from local authorities in relation to community charge enforcement proceedings in 1992 -93 will yield £5.8 million.
Mr. Blunkett : To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department (1) if he will make a statement on the practice of some justices' clerks of requiring local authorities to pay cash in advance of hearings for fees under the Magistrates Courts Fees (Amendment) Order 1992 ;
(2) when he plans to issue guidance to justices' clerks and local authorities about the operation of the Magistrates Courts Fees (Amendment) Order 1992.
Mr. John M. Taylor : It is appropriate for a fee to be charged when the relevant application is made. It is the intention to issue guidelines shortly to justices clerks on this and other points on the 1992 order on which queries have been raised.
WALES
Cardiff Bay Barrage
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer on 22 June to the hon. Member for Cardiff, West, Official Report, column 70, if he will give the latest estimated outturn cost of the proposed Cardiff bay barrage on the same cash price basis as the £147.7 million estimate had been made.
Mr. David Hunt : The latest estimate of the outturn cost of the barrage and related expenditure based on the GDP deflator at market prices dated 10 March 1992 up to 1995-96 and inflation at constant 2.5 per cent. after that, is £167.4 million.
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Fish Protection
Mr. Richards : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement concerning the proposed byelaws promoted by the North West and North Wales sea fisheries committee for the protection of salmon and sea trout in north Wales coastal waters.
Mr. David Hunt : I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave to my right hon. Friend the Member for Woking (Mr. Onslow) on 19 June.
NATIONAL FINANCE
Second Hand Goods
Sir David Steel : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how he intends to respond to the representations he has received concerning the EC Directive on Second Hand Goods and the possible imposition of VAT on the sale of second hand goods.
Mr. Lamont : The Sixth VAT Directive requires tax to be charged on the full selling price of all goods and services unless otherwise relieved. Although there is no general relief for second hand goods, there are special schemes for certain of these goods including works of art, antiques and collectors' items under which tax is charged only on the seller's margin.
The draft Seventh VAT Directive which requires unanimity for its adoption proposes a harmonised scheme which will in general extend this relief to other second hand goods. The Government have taken into account the representations it has received in establishing its negotiating position. My right hon. Friend the Paymaster General has received representations from both the fine art trade and the Charities Tax Reform Group and is fully aware of their concerns. Any changes to the United Kingdom's current zero rates would require unanimity for adoption and we cannot therefore have unacceptable changes forced upon us. I refer the hon. Gentleman to my right hon. Friend the Paymaster General's response to a question from the hon. Member for Leeds, West (Mr. Battle) on 17 June, Official Report, columns 539-40.
National Economic Development Office
Mr. Leighton : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many civil servants were employed in the National Economic Development Office and Council ; how many of those have been moved to (a) the Department of Trade and Industry and (b) elsewhere in the civil service ; and how many have been made redundant.
Mr. Portillo : At the time of my right hon. Friend's statement on 16 June, the NEDC and NEDO employed 113 staff, including four on secondment to other organisations and five on fixed-term contracts which will end before NEDO is due to close on 31 December. In addition, NEDO staff included two secondees from other organisations, including one civil servant.
Staff on secondment to NEDO will be entitled to return to their parent organisation. As my right hon. Friend explained in his statement, some staff may be offered limited period appointments in the DTI and there may be other opportunities in Government Departments. Those
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who do not secure employment in the civil service will be eligible for redundancy compensation by analogy with the usual civil service rules. I shall not know how many staff have been made redundant until after NEDO has closed at the end of the year.Economic Development
Mr. Biffen : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the relative public expenditure on economic development as between England and Wales over the past 10 years ; to what extent this has resulted in a convergence between the two economies ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Lamont : A territorial analysis of public expenditure is published as appendix E in the statistical supplement to the autumn statement 1991. Information on territorial gross domestic product is published in an article on regional accounts in the November 1991 issue of Economic Trends.
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