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Sheep Dips
Mr. Tyler : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the rules for the disposal of organophosphorus sheep dips ; and what the average costs of incineration are for farmers.
Mr. Maclean : As an agricultural waste, disposal of
organophosphorus sheep dip is controlled by means of statutory codes of practice. Under section 97 of the Water Resources Act (1991) the code of good agricultural practice for the protection of water gives advice to farmers on the safe disposal of spent dip. MAFF have published a guidance note on the safe handling and disposal of sheep dips. The code and guidance note advise farmers on the type, siting and use of dipping baths and on the preferred methods of disposal. While soakaways are no longer considered suitable, dilution and spreading to sacrificial land or disposal via an approved waste disposal contractor are recommended. Spent dip is not suitable for incineration. Commercial information on the costs of incineration are not collated or held centrally and could be obtained only at excessive cost.
Disabled Employees
Mr. Janner : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many and what percentage of officers in grades 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7, respectively, and overrall in his Department are registered disabled people.
Mr. Howard : The Department employs 64 staff who are known to be registered and a further 34 who are known to have a disability without being registered. This represents some 1.5 per cent. of the total non- industrial workforce.
These figures include one grade 6 and three grade 7s who are disabled but not registered.
Carbon Dioxide
Mrs. Gorman : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
Mr. Maclean : Continuous measurements of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere have been made in remote locations since the International Geophysical Year, 1957. The global average concentration estimated from these measurements has increased steadily every year. In its 1992 science supplementary report the intergovernmental panel on climate change estimated the present global average concentration of carbon dioxide to be 355 parts per million by volume.
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Local Government Boundaries
Mr. Spearing : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to publish the recommendations of the local government boundary commission in respect of London boroughs and his (a) acceptance or (b) non-acceptance of those recommendations.
Mr. Robin Squire : The local government boundary commission publishes its recommendations in the form of final reports to the Secretary of State. Twenty-two London borough reports have been published so far. The commission is expected to submit its final reports on the remainder by the end of October 1992. The Secretary of State has issued his decisions on three of the reports and has accepted all but one of the recommendations.
Starlings (Pa te )
Mr. Wilson : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on the export of starlings to France for the manufacture of pa te .
Mr. Maclean : The export of whole dead starlings in feather to France would need to be covered by an export permit issued by my Department under the provisions of the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act 1976. While we treat each application on its individual merits, commercial trade would not normally be allowed since this might encourage the killing of these birds for profit rather than as pests.
The export of plucked birds is not controlled under the 1976 Act, and exports could take place without reference to my Department.
Local Government Finance
Mr. Pickthall : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the disparity between the standard spending assessment for interest receipts for Lancashire 1992-93 and the council's budget estimate.
Mr. Robin Squire : The standard spending assessment element for interest receipts is calculated on the basis that the ability to generate such receipts is proportional to an authority's turnover or expenditure (as measured by total SSA, excluding the allowance for capital financing). For 1992-93 local decisions will determine the extent to which actual receipts differ from the SSA allowance.
Mr. Blunkett : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will respond to the representations made by the Association of Metropolitan Authorities on the need for reimbursement of local authorities on the costs incurred in business rate resiting as a result of the changes announced in the Budget ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Redwood : The Department wrote to the association on 25 June. We have agreed a basic allowance of 18 pence for postage costs and 70 pence for preparation of adjustment notices (but with an additional cost weighting for areas with high staff costs). In addition, we have agreed to meet authorities' reasonable computer software costs, subject to audit.
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Home Energy Efficiency Scheme
Mrs. Ewing : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many households in Moray constituency qualify for grant aid under the home energy efficiency scheme ; and how many homes have been improved under the scheme since its inception in 1991.
Mr. Maclean : In order to be eligible for grant under the home energy efficiency scheme, an applicant or his or her spouse must be in receipt of one of five passportable benefits : housing benefit, income support, family credit, community charge benefit and disability working allowance. In addition, his or her property must meet certain criteria concerning existing levels of insulation and receipt of a grant for similar work under previous schemes. Data on numbers of households eligible in any particular area at a particular time are not available.
Figures for the number of homes treated under the scheme are not collected on a constituency basis. Within the network installer area which contains the hon. Member's constituency, 1,245 homes have benefited from HEES grant since 1 January 1991.
Local Government Finance
Mr. Pickthall : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will detail the reasons for, and the contents of, the reduction of total standard spending from the service working groups' calculation of £44 billion to £41.8 billion for 1992-93.
Mr. Robin Squire : The level of total standard spending reflects a range of factors including pressures on local government spending, the scope for savings, the level of central and local taxation and what the country as a whole can afford. It represents the Government's overall judgment and as such is not comparable in detail with the recommendations of the service working groups.
Mr. Pickthall : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the standard spending assessment for social services in Lancashire in 1990-91, 1991-92 and 1992-93, and what is the national average in each of those years.
Mr. Robin Squire : The information requested is shown in the table.
|c|Personal social services standard spending
assessments|c|
|Lancashire|England
--------------------------------------------------------
PSS SSA in £ million
1990-91 |92.854 |3,591
1991-92 |113.860 |4,417
1992-93 |120.306 |4,734
PSS SSA in £ per adult
1990-91 |89 |101
1991-92 |109 |124
1992-93 |117 |134
Planning Applications
Mr. Win Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has made any assessment of the effectiveness of the way in which parish councils are receiving information about the nature and details of planning applications.
Mr. Baldry : No assessment has been made. Under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 parish councils
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have the right to be notified about all planning applications within their boundary. Paragraph 8 of schedule 1 will be amended to ensure that those parish councils wishing to be notified about planning applications will also be notified about alterations to applications.Care Homes
Mr. Pickthall : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment for what reasons the number of places in private residential homes is included in the standard spending assessment formula for elderly residential social services ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Robin Squire : The standard spending assessment element for residential social services for the elderly includes an indicator (with a negative weight) based on the numbers of residents in independent, registered residential homes to take some account of the fact that private and voluntary provision has become an increasingly important alternative to local authority supported care in some areas. Where residents receive extra support from DSS benefits this represents a cost saving to the local authority.
Urban Regeneration Agency
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects the urban regeneration agency to be established ; whether its terms of reference will include Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland ; if he will advertise openly the jobs of chairmen ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Robin Squire : Subject to the passage of legislation, it is likely that the urban regeneration agency will be established in the second half of 1993. Its remit will be restricted to England and Mr. Peter Walker has already agreed to be the first chairman.
Park Police
Mr. Mackinlay : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what statutory protection exists for constables of the City of Westminster parks police and borough of Wandsworth parks police from unfair dismissal ; what statutory restrictions exist on their taking industrial action ; what statutory police federation exists to represent them ; and what statutory restrictions exist on their entitlement to join a trades union.
Mr. Robin Squire : The conditions of service of the Westminster and Wandsworth parks police are matters for the authorities concerned, in their role as employers.
Environmental Assessments
Mrs. Lait : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has for extending the requirements for environmental assessment to projects not already covered.
Sir George Young : Section 71A of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, as inserted by section 15 of the Planning and Compensation Act 1991, enables the Secretary of State to make regulations adding to the categories of project subject to planning control which may require environmental assessment. The Government have promised to consult those concerned before making regulations.
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My Department is today issuing a consultation paper inviting comments on proposals to amend the Town and Country Planning (Assessment of Environmental Effects) Regulations 1988 to add the following categories : trout farms, water treatment plants, wind generators, motorway and similar service areas, coast protection works and golf courses. The effect would be to require environmental assessment where a project of this type was likely to have significant environmental effects. The paper also proposes adding privately financed toll roads to Schedule 1 to the Regulations, the effect of which would be to require environmental assessment for all projects of this kind ; and various minor amendments to the existing procedures. The Welsh Office is undertaking a similar consultation exercise in Wales.A copy of the paper is being placed in the Library.
Ordnance Survey
Mrs. Chaplin : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what performance targets have been set for the Ordnance Survey executive agency in the year 1992-93.
Mr. Howard : The following performance targets have been set for Ordnance Survey in 1992-93:
1. Recover 70 per cent. of the total cost incurred by the agency. 2. Survey and map at the basic scales 846,000 units of change. 3. Increase by 34,700 the number of basic scale maps available in digital form.
4. Publish on microfilm within three months each large-scale map reaching the criteria and specification for reproduction. 5. Despatch within seven working days (including the day the order is received) 90 per cent. of orders for 1 : 50000 scale folded maps.
Specific Action for Vigorous Energy Efficiency Programme
Mr. Win Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps have been taken to meet the proposals contained in the European Community's SAVE programme ; and to what extent the programme is behind schedule.
Mr. Maclean [holding answer 13 May 1992] : The United Kingdom fully supports the objectives of the SAVE programme and is active on the SAVE Consultative Committee, where we continue to reinforce the Commission's efforts to stimulate energy efficiency through pilot projects and information activities. Agreement has been reached on internal market legislation for efficiency standards of new central heating boilers and for mandatory energy labelling of domestic appliances. The Commission has now proposed a SAVE Directive setting out areas not related to traded goods in which member states should achieve progress in energy efficiency, and I welcome their recognition that EC wide legislation is not necessarily the best way to encourage energy efficiency in areas which do not affect the internal market. This new proposal replaces the timetable contained in the original SAVE Communication.
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Abattoirs
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the regulations which control effluents discharged from abattoirs ; which bodies are responsible for monitoring such effluents ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Maclean [holding answer 25 June 1992] : Discharges of trade effluent, including those from abattoirs, are subject to control under the Water Industry and Water Resources Acts 1991. Discharges to sewer require the consent of the relevant water service company and those to a watercourse require the consent of the National Rivers Authority. It is the responsibility of the consenting authority in each case to carry out associated monitoring.
Business Rate
Mr. David Porter : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what effect he expects his measures to alleviate the uniform business rate to have on (a) retail, (b) manufacturing, (c) service and (d) other businesses in East Anglia ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Robin Squire [holding answer 29 June 1992] : We estimate that 31,000 businesses in East Anglia will benefit from the provisions of the Non-Domestic Rating Act 1992, to the tune of about £14 million during 1992-93. The table shows our estimate of the spread of the savings across different business sectors in East Anglia.
D
Business sectors |Number of |Aggregate
|businesses |savings (£m)
|(000s)
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Retail |11 |3
Offices |3 |1
Manufacturing |6 |5
Other |11 |5
Total |31 |14
In addition, businesses in East Anglia will benefit from the change allowing property to retain any transitional relief if it changes hands after 10 March this year.
Dog Mess
Mr. David Porter : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy now to seek a legislative opportunity to have dog mess classified as litter ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Maclean [holding answer 29 June 1992] : Classifying dog mess as litter would not permit prosecution of owners who allowed their dogs to foul. Local authorities already have the ability to make byelaws in respect of dog fouling and many authorities have taken such powers. However, we are considering whether further legislation on the subject of dog fouling would be appropriate.
Owner-occupiers
Mrs. Roe : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the number and percentage of all households accounted for by owner- occupiers in the United Kingdom ; and what comparable information he has for other EC member states.
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Sir George Young [holding answer 29 June 1992] : Comparable figures for households are not available for EC countries, but the number of dwellings in owner occupation are given in the table.
|c|Stock of dwellings in owner occupation|c|
1990
|Thousand |Percentage of all
|dwellings |dwellings
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ireland |<2>1,005 |81
Greece |<5>3,999 |79
Spain |16,287 |76
Luxembourg |<6>138 |68
United Kingdom |23,383 |67
of which England |19,522 |69
Italy |<1>23,232 |67
Belgium |<4>3,997 |65
Portugal |<1>3,768 |58
France |26,237 |<2>54
Denmark |<1>2,353 |51
Netherlands |<1>5,802 |45
Germany (West) |<1>26,598 |<3>38
Germany (East) |<1>7,003 |n/a
<1>1989
<2>1988
<3>1987
<4>1985
<5>1981
<6>1980
Opencast Mining
Mr. Gunnell : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what weight is given to potential respiratory problems in assessing opposition from neighbouring communities to an application for opencast mining.
Mr. Baldry [holding answer 29 June 1992] : Minerals Planning Guidance Note 3 advises mineral planning authorities that they will need to have regard to all material considerations when determining planning applications for opencast coal mining. However, I am advised that there is no evidence to suggest that surface mineral working causes any detrimental health effects on local communities.
Mr. Gunnell : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if Her Majesty's Government will initiate a wide-ranging review on the effects of opencast mining on neighbouring communities.
Mr. Baldry [holding answer 29 June 1992] : No. the current planning guidelines on opencast coal mining are contained in Minerals Planning Guidance Note 3 (MPG 3) published in 1988. They advise mineral planning authorities of the need to have regard to all material considerations when determining applications and to consider in detail the environmental, nature conservation, agricultural, landscape, traffic and other effects of the proposal that are relevant to the planning decision.
City Challenge
Mr. Blunkett : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to make reductions in levels of city challenge funding for 1993-94 and 1994-95 ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Redwood [holding answer 29 June 1992] : City challenge expenditure on pacemakers and round 2 winners will be £82.5 million and £150 million per annum
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respectively for five years. There are no plans to reduce these amounts. No decisions on future rounds of city challenge have yet been taken.Market Testing
Mr. Terry Davis : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment who has been appointed as a consultant to his Department for market testing.
Mr. Howard [holding answer 29 June 1992] : My Department employed Dr. Alan Kemp to assist in the development of its response to the "Competing for Quality" White Paper. Messrs. Donaldson have advised on the preparation of contractual documentation for market testing property management services and have undertaken a subsequent review. Coopers and Lybrand Deloitte are advising on the value for money of alternative arrangements for providing the services offered by the Government car service and the interdepartmental despatch service. Further appointments in support of the market testing programme will be made as required.
Dittiscombe Equestration Centre
Mr. Steen : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, further to his answer of 17 June, Official Report, column 572, regarding the appeal against the level of business rate by the Dittiscombe equestrian centre, Slapton, if he will bring forward the date of the hearing to 2 August to enable the appeal to be heard within two years from the date of the proposal being received by the Devon valuation tribunal.
Mr. Robin Squire [holding answer 29 June 1992] : Valuation tribunals are independent bodies, and it would not be right for the Department to interfere in the timing of specific cases.
However, I understand that the district valuation office has been negotiating with the agent representing the owner. It may be therefore that this case can be settled earlier without the need for the hearing.
SCOTLAND
Homosexuals
Mrs. Currie : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many men were sent to prison in each of the last five years for convictions of consensual homosexual activity with men aged over 16 years and under 21 years ; how many such prosecutions have taken place in each of the last five years ; and how many resulted in sentences of immediate custody.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : The specific information requested is not available. What information we have is set out in the table :
|c|Persons Proceeded Against under section 8(7) of the|c|
|c|Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 1980|c|
Year |Persons Proceeded|Persons Sentenced
|Against |to custody
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1988 |53 |4
1989 |42 |1
1990 |74 |1
Section 80(7) offences include homosexual acts with a person under the age of 21 with or without the consent of both parties.
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Equal Opportunities
Mr. Janner : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many and what percentage of officers in grades 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 respectively and overall in his Department are women.
Mr. Lang : The number and percentage of women officers in post in grades 1 to 7--and equivalents--and overall in the Scottish Office and associated departments are shown in the table :
Grade (and |Women |Percentage
equivalents
------------------------------------------------
1
2
3 |3 |11.5
4 |1 |6.2
5 |17 |12.6
6 |36 |17.1
7 |68 |14.7
Overall |2,828 |44.9
Telegraph Poles
Mr. Wilson : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will outline the obligations placed upon British Telecom plc to consult on, or seek permission for, the erection of poles in close proximity to private residences.
Mr. Allan Stewart : There are no general requirements for British Telecom to consult on, or seek permission for, the erection of poles in such circumstances. This type of development benefits from a general planning permission under class 67 of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Scotland) Order 1992. However, in conservation areas or national scenic areas, British Telecom must give the planning authority at least eight weeks' notice of its intention to carry out development, except in a case of emergency, when notice must be given as soon as possible after the emergency begins. Under the terms of the licence granted to British Telecom by the Telecommunications Act 1984, the visual amenity of properties in proximity to poles should, where practicable, be protected.
Child Health
Mr. Alfred Morris : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he has taken, or will be taking, to promote as a priority the plan of action for survival, protection and development of children, agreed by Commonwealth Heads of Government at their meeting in Harare in 1991 for improving child health in Commonwealth countries in the present decade ; what information he has received from other Commonwealth countries in regard to implementing the plan of action ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Allan Stewart [holding answer 26 June 1992] : I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given by the Prime Minister on 24 June, Official Report, column 219.
Midges
Mr. Galbraith : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to deal with the problems associated with culicoides impunctalis, the Scottish biting midge ; and if he will make a statement.
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Sir Hector Monro [holding answer 26 June 1992] : I have no such plans. The ability of culicoides impunctatus to cause discomfort and disruption is well known, but it is a dominant part of Scottish wildlife and possible measures to control or eradicate the species have to take account of the need to avoid harming the wider environment.Mr. Galbraith : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what research his Department sponsors on the Scottish biting midge, culicoides impunctalis ; and if he will make a statement.
Sir Hector Monro [holding answer 26 June 1992] : The Scottish Office is not sponsoring any such research at present, but I am aware of current research being funded by other bodies, for example at the university of Aberdeen.
Local Government Reorganisation
Dr. Godman : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will outline the statutory responsibilities that he proposes shall be placed upon the unitary local authorities following his proposed re organisation of local government in Scotland ;
(2) if he will list the non-statutory and permissive powers he proposes shall be made available to the unitary local authorities following his proposed reorganisation of local government in Scotland.
Mr. Allan Stewart [holding answer 24 June 1992] : My right hon. Friend intends to issue a second consultation paper on local government reorganisation in the autumn. This will set out illustrative options for the new structure and discuss how services might be delivered under different structures. No decisions about powers or responsibilities will be taken until we have completed our thorough and comprehensive consultation.
Voluntary Organisations
Mr. Worthington : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the financial effect on voluntary organisations in Scotland of the level of income support for people in private homes.
Mr. Allan Stewart [holding answer 24 June 1992] : No such assessment has been made by my Department. The level of income support for people in voluntary and private sector residential care homes is a matter for which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security has responsibility. A study of costs in independent residential care homes which included homes in Scotland was undertaken in 1990 for the Department of Social Security. The results of this were taken into account in determining the increases in income support limits from April 1991. Increases in the limits from April 1992 were generally above the rate of inflation.
Residential Homes
Mr. Worthington : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with local authorities or voluntary organisations about the level of financial support for residents in residential or nursing homes in Scotland.
Mr. Allan Stewart [holding answer 24 June 1992] : No such discussions have taken place. The issue raised by the hon. Member is a matter for which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security has responsibility.
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Fishing Industry
Mrs. Ewing : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total amount of EC funding available to the Scottish Office via EC FEOGA grants to assist the fishing industry in Scotland in the current financial year and the projected figure for 1993-94 and 1994-95.
Sir Hector Monro [holding answer 25 June 1992] : EC grants are available for investment in ports, fishing vessels, aquaculture and for the marketing and processing of fish products. The amount of that assistance will depend on the success of individual applications.
Fish Processing
Mrs. Ewing : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many representations he has received from the fish-processing industry for temporary derogation from EC proposals on regulations pertaining to the fish-processing industry.
Sir Hector Monro [holding answer 25 June 1992] : By June 24 the Scottish Office had received 260 applications for temporary derogations from the structural and equipment requirements of the fishery products directive 91/493/EEC.
Mrs. Ewing : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to publish guidelines relating to EC proposals as they affect export licences for fish processors in Scotland.
Sir Hector Monro [holding answer 25 June 1992] : Directive 91/493/EEC, concerning health rules for the production and placing on the market of fishery products, requires that all such products are given an identification mark to signify that they have been produced in accordance with the directive. The directive applies to trade within the European Community ; trade with third countries will continue to be subject to bilateral arrangements. The regulations implementing the directive will be issued for public consultation shortly.
Skye Bridge
Mr. Charles Kennedy : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement of his Department's view on the ongoing work being carried out by the Miller Construction Group in the south-west Ross area in advance of his receiving the recommendations of the reporter at the Skye bridge public inquiry.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 25 June 1992] : We understand that the contractor for Skye Bridge Tolls Ltd. has been making prudent preparations in the event that the go-ahead should be given to the project. In particular, we understand that the contractor has carried out minor operations to determine that the Kishorn dry dock was still operable.
Wick Airport
Mr. Maclennan : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd. about a public road which crosses the runway at Wick airport ; and if he will make a statement.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 26 June 1992] : The chairman of Highlands and Islands Airports
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