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Home Safety
Mr. Hutton : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration he has given to making the promotion of home safety a statutory responsibility of local authorities ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Baldry : None. It is for local authorities to decide whether they wish to promote home safety, taking into account local circumstances.
Mr. Hutton : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will help those local authorities which have established home safety committees.
Mr. Baldry : No. Local authorities who have chosen to establish such committees will no doubt first have taken into account the resource implications of doing so.
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Environment Council
Mr. Nigel Evans : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Environment Council on 20 October.
Mr. Howard : I chaired the Environment Council which met in Luxembourg on 20 October. My hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment and Countryside repre-sented the United Kingdom. The Council agreed a common position on a new regulation on the supervision and control of shipments of waste within, into and out of the European Community. The Council has invited the European Parliament to co-operate in expediting the adoption of this regulation so that the next meeting of the Council in December can settle the date when the EC and the United Kingdom can ratify the Basel convention on the control of transboundary movements of hazardous wastes and their disposal. The regulation could therefore come into operation in 1994. The Government will have powers under the regulation to ban imports for final disposal from all countries including member states of the EC unless they produce hazardous waste in such a small quantity that it would be uneconomic for them to provide their own disposal facilities. The regulation also contains strict controls on the international movement of recoverable wastes and will give legal effect to an Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development decision on the movement of recoverables.
The Council agreed to press for methyl bromide to be added to the list of controlled substances covered by the Montreal protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer at next month's meeting of the parties in Copenhagen, with an initial control involving a freeze at 1991 levels by 1995. My hon. Friend indicated that the United Kingdom would have been willing to go further and accept a 25 per cent. cut in methyl bromide production and consumption by the year 2000 if other member states had been willing to do likewise. The Council also exchanged views on the controls on chlorofluorocarbons and other ozone-depleting substances that the Community should press for in Copenhagen and on other issues likely to arise there. The Council held a discussion on the fifth environmental action programme-- "Towards Sustainability"--and gave initial consideration to a draft Council resolution endorsing the programme. Ministers envisaged the adoption of the resolution in December when the European Parliament's opinion has been received.
The Council held a discussion about the European Environment Agency. Ministers expressed regret at the lack of a decision on the location of the agency which continues to prevent it from beginning its work. They expressed the hope that the European Council would, as a matter of urgency, reach a decision on this issue.
The Council discussed informally climate change and follow-up to the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development. On the former, they agreed that the climate change convention should be ratified by the end of 1993 ; that member states should produce the national plans required under the convention by the same time ; that member states' own plans for reducing CO emissions should be submitted to the Council by the end of this year ; and that the Council will consider the Commission's proposals for monitoring
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member states' CO emissions at its next meeting. On the latter, Ministers reaffirmed the plan agreed at the Lisbon European Council for follow-up action to Rio.The Council discussed the Commission's proposal for a regulation on eco- auditing, which would establish a voluntary scheme to encourage positive and effective environmental management of industrial operations and public reporting of the environmental impacts of their activities. Ministers endorsed the continuation of work aimed at the further refinement of the proposal to enable early agreement on it. The Council considered for the first time the Commission's proposal for a revision of controls on the wildlife trade--the "Convention on Trade in Endangered Species regulation". Other member states joined the United Kingdom in supporting a significant strengthening of current controls, while emphasising that any extension of controls beyond those species covered by CITES must be on a scientific basis. The Council agreed that any harmonised controls within member states must be sharply focused ; that the Community must avoid needless bureaucracy ; and that it was important to ensure that member states retained an appropriate level of discretion in operating the controls. Ministers invited the Committee of permanent
representatives to continue their work on this issue.
The Council took note of progress in preparing a directive which would extend to light-duty vehicles provisions on the control of exhaust pollutants which already apply to passenger cars and heavy commercial vehicles. Ministers hoped to reach a common position on the draft directive in December.
Highway Signs
Mr. Clifton-Brown : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidelines his Department issues to local authorities on highway signs in areas of outstanding natural beauty.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : I have been asked to reply.
The visual appearance of traffic signs is required to comply with the traffic signs regulations and general directions 1981. Circular roads 7/75 gives advice on the ways of minimising the intrusion of traffic signs on highways in rural areas. Guidance on the provision of signs to tourists attractions is given in circular roads 1/91. Copies of these circulars are in the Library.
Sludge Incinerators
Mr. Spearing : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what planning applications for sewage sludge incinerators are currently being considered by planning authorities in England and Wales ; and if he will name those which he has called in for public inquiry.
Mr. Baldry [pursuant to his reply 22 October 1922, c. 351] : The Secretaries of State are not automatically informed of all planning applications for sewage sludge incinerators. However, the Town and Country Planning (Development Plans and Consultation) Direction 1992 requires local planning authorities to notify them of development proposals which would significantly prejudice implementation of a development plan. Through this mechanism, we are aware of two applications currently before local planning authorities--Crossness in the
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London borough of Bexley and at Beckton in the London borough of Newham. Neither of these applications has been called in. In addition to these current applications, Northumbrian Water and Internal Technology Europe Ltd. have appealed to the Secretary of State in respect of their incinerator proposals at East Howden in north Tyneside and at Portrack in Stockton-on-Tees ; a public inquiry has been held and the Secretary of State is considering the inspector's report.Fuel Supplies
Mr. Battle : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will relax the compulsory competitive tendering rules governing purchasing by local authorities to allow local authorities in England and Wales to identify the country of origin of fuel supplies.
Mr. Robin Squire : The purchase of supplies by local authorities is not subject to the compulsory competitive tendering legislation. The Government have no plans to repeal part II of the Local Government Act 1988 which prohibits local authorities from introducing non-commercial considerations into the purchasing of supplies.
EDUCATION
Grant-Maintained Schools
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Education if it is his intention to apply the same criteria to grant-maintained schools as to local education authority schools when considering the rationalisation of school places.
Mr. Forth : We are determined to reduce wasteful surplus capacity and will apply similar criteria to all proposals for the rationalisation of school places.
Mr. Byers : To ask the Secretary of State for Education which grant- maintained schools were visited by Her Majesty's inspectors during the period January 1992 to July 1992 and what was the total costs of these inspections ; in the case of each school, (a) how many visits have taken place, (b) what is the number of inspectors involved, (c) what is the total number of days involved and (d) what is the cost ; and whether it is proposed to publish any report arising from these visits.
Mr. Forth : HMI visited 50 GM schools in the period mentioned. None of the visits was a formal inspection intended to lead to a published report. The information available is given in the table.
School |Number of Days|Cost (£)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hendon |2.0 |780
Queen Elizabeth |2.0 |780
Queensbury |4.0 |1,560
Baverstock |2.0 |780
Small Heath |4.0 |1,560
St. James CE |2.0 |780
Old Swinford Hospital |2.0 |780
London Oratory |4.0 |1,560
Heckmondwike GS |4.0 |1,560
Kings School, Lincoln |3.0 |1,170
Wilson's School |2.0 |780
Audenshaw |2.0 |780
Bankfield HS |2.0 |780
St. Francis Xavier |4.0 |1,560
Southlands |1.0 |390
Claremont HS |2.0 |780
Ribston Hall |1.5 |585
London Nautical |21.0 |8,190
Bridgewater Hall |1.0 |390
Ecclesbourne |5.5 |2,145
Marling |1.0 |390
Stroud HS |1.0 |390
Watford Boys' GS |2.0 |780
Longfield HS |4.0 |1,560
Wolverhampton HS for Girls |2.0 |780
Bullers Wood |2.0 |780
Handsworth GS |5.5 |2,145
Great Barr |2.0 |780
Crossley Heath |2.0 |780
North Halifax HS |1.0 |390
Wilmington Boys' GS |2.0 |780
Lancaster Girls' GS |2.0 |780
King Edward VI, Lincoln |1.0 |390
Stratford |3.0 |1,170
Watford Girls' GS |1.0 |390
Vyners |1.0 |390
Haydon |1.0 |390
Homewood |1.5 |585
Southlands |1.0 |390
Bourne County Primary |2.0 |780
Moulton Primary |2.0 |780
Kingswood |1.0 |390
Manor High |1.5 |585
Avon Valley |1.0 |390
Christs Hospital |2.0 |780
The Gartree Tattershal |1.0 |390
Salterlee Primary |0.5 |195
Bassingbown Village College |1.0 |390
Minster College |1.0 |390
Myton |2.0 |780
|------ |------
Total |122.0 |47,580
Assisted Places
Mr. Pawsey : To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many assisted places remained unfilled in 1992 in each standard region.
Mr. Forth : At the end of the academic year 1991-92, the numbers of assisted places available, the numbers taken up and the numbers unfilled in each region are as shown in the table :
Assisted places
Region |Available|Taken-up |Vacant
-------------------------------------------------------
North-east |1,477 |873 |604
North-west |7,214 |6,408 |806
Yorkshire and
Humberside |2,267 |1,794 |473
East Midlands |2,063 |1,846 |217
West Midlands |3,146 |2,721 |425
East Anglia |1,578 |1,340 |238
South-west |3,580 |3,246 |334
South-east |5,873 |4,403 |1,470
Greater London |6,114 |5,010 |1,104
Mr. Pawsey : To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the total number of assisted places ; and how it has increased since the inception of the scheme.
Mr. Forth : The total number of assisted places available and the total number taken up since the scheme's inception in 1981 are given in the table :
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Academic Year |Places Available|Places Taken Up -------------------------------------------------------------------- 1981-82 |5,446 |4,185 1982-83 |11,058 |8,616 1983-84 |15,866 |13,102 1984-85 |20,699 |17,386 1985-86 |25,210 |21,412 1986-87 |29,295 |24,478 1987-88 |33,228 |26,899 1988-89 |33,217 |27,083 1989-90 |33,280 |27,008 1990-91 |33,302 |26,740 1991-92 |33,312 |27,641 The figures are for England only
Problem Schools
Mr. Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will set out the basis for the assumption in his departmental White Paper, "Choice and Diversity : A New Framework for Schools," that problem schools will be in the local education authority sector rather than the grant maintained sector.
Mr. Forth : No such assumption has been made. Chapter 11 of the White Paper sets out the steps that will be taken to tackle failing schools in the local education authority sector. Chapter 3 includes details of the powers which my right hon. Friend will have to ensure that remedial action is taken where grant-maintained schools are failing to provide an adequate standard of education for their pupils.
Expenditure, Birmingham
Mr. Pawsey : To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the level of education underspend for the Birmingham local education authority for each of the past three years.
Mr. Forth : It is for the Birmingham local authority to determine its spending on education in the light of local circumstances and priorities. The Government do not set targets for spending on individual services. The Government do, however, calculate for each service what an authority would need to spend to provide a standard level of service--its standard spending assessment (SAA).
The latest available figures showing the difference between Birmingham's estimated spending on education and the education component of its standard spending assessment are given in the table.
|Education SSA |Estimated spending |Difference
|on education
Year |£ million (rounded)|£ million (rounded)|£ million (rounded)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1990-91 |399 |352 |48
1991-92 |457 |392 |64
1992-93 |485 |428 |57
Note: Information on estimated expenditure is taken from the authority's returns to the Department
of the Environment on forms RA90/91-92/93 and RA(SG)90/91-92/93, repriced to outturn.
Access Funds
Mr. Pawsey : To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will consider increasing the access funds by an amount that takes into account the increase in the number of students since the inception of the funds.
Mr. Forman : I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave him on 12 May, Official Report , column 63 . The money allocated to access funds is not specifically related to the number of students overall but is intended to be targeted at those in real need.
A Hard Act to Follow"
Mr. Alfred Morris : To ask the Secretary of State for Education what consideration his Department has given to the criticisms of the Education Act 1981 made in the report, "A Hard Act to Follow", published by the Spastics Society, if there is any action he will be taking ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Forth : "A Hard Act to Follow" has been given very careful consideration. I met representatives of the Spastics Society and discussed the findings of the report on 24 September 1992. I have already publicly welcomed the document as a useful piece of research, and have noted that the findings will add stimulus to the current debate on special educational needs. In many respects, the report confirmed the need for the Government's new measures, which had already been announced in chapter 9 of the White Paper, "Choice and Diversity", and elsewhere.
Expenditure, Manchester
Mr. Alfred Morris : To ask the Secretary of State for Education what study his Department has made of the city of Manchester's needs for capital expenditure for its education service in the financial year 1993-94, including basic need in schools ; what help he expects to be available, in particular for the replacement of school premises which are in an unsafe condition ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Forth : I discussed Manchester's capital plans briefly on a visit to the authority in July. Officials met representatives from Manchester local education authority to discuss their plans in more detail, prior ito preparation of their bid.
I am meeting a delegation of officers and members from Manchester in early November to discuss their future needs, with particular reference to basic need in primary schools and surplus place removal projects in the secondary sector.
I cannot yet say what resources will be available, but Manchester's needs will be carefully considered in accordance with the normal criteria, along with those from all other LEAs. Their capital allocation will be announced in December.
London University
Mr. Nigel Evans : To ask the Secretary of State for Education what representations he has received from graduates of the university of London concerning the proposed break-up of the federal status of the university.
Mr. Forman : Generally, the future development of the federal university and the constitutional position of its
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colleges are internal matters for the university and its constituent colleges. However, we have received some representations from the society "Graduate with Honours" about the future of the federal graduation ceremony.Computer Projects
Mr. Pendry : To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will publish a table setting out for the period since 9 April (a) each tender issued by his Department for projects requiring the supply of (i) computer hardware and (ii) computer software, (b) a description of the services required, (c) the number of companies which were invited to tender, (d) the number of companies which submitted a bid without prior invitation by his Department, (e) which company was awarded the contract, (f) the value of each contract and (g) the length of period over which the contract will run.
Mr. Forman : The information requested is set out. In addition to these, there have been four single-tender procurements for enhancements to existing systems--for which competitive tendering was inappropriate--with a total value of £110,250.
Tenders for hardware
None.
Tenders for software
a. Supply of a payroll system for the Further Education Funding Council.
Companies invited to bid : three
Unsolicited bids submitted : none
Successful company : Centrefile Ltd.
Contract value : £20,194
Period of contract : supply only plus one year's maintenance b. Supply of Accounting System for OFSTED
Companies invited to bid : four
Unsolicited bids submitted : none
Successful company : Tate Bramald Ltd.
Contract value : £12,095
Period of contract : supply only
c. TOPIC software for Policy Branch Information System
Companies invited to bid : 15
Unsolicited bids submitted : none
Successful Company : Verity Ltd.
Contract value : £22,007
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Period of contract : supply and licence onlyAll values quoted exclude VAT.
ATTORNEY-GENERAL
Appointments
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Attorney-General if he will list all the names of public appointments that he has made, giving the period for which the appointment was made, relevant qualifications of the appointees and what remuneration each currently receives.
The Attorney-General : I have not myself made any appointment to a public body, as yet.
DUCHY OF LANCASTER
Revenue
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list by (a) county and (b) location, the revenues received by the honours of the Duchy by year for the last five years.
Mr. Waldegrave : The ancient possessions of the duchy of Lancaster include the honour and county of Lancaster, the honours of Leicester, Tutbury, Bolingbroke, Pickering, Tickhill, Halton, Knaresborough. However, receipt of duchy revenues is not restricted to possessions within these honours and accounting records by honour are not maintained.
The hon. Member was given a list of all land holdings on 16 June 1992, Official Report, columns 360-61. To produce revenue figures for each individual holding for the past five years could only be done at disproportionate cost, and in some cases the revenue attributable would be insignificant. Duchy gross revenue--other than from investments and deposits--is analysed by county and is set out. All revenues are shown gross.
During 1988, a new accounting system was introduced and the analysis for that year could only be done at disproportionate cost.
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|1987 |1989 |1990 |1991
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cheshire
(Including some mineral income in Derbyshire) |480,614 |534,715 |562,587 |571,521
Staffordshire |448,514 |529,028 |537,137 |541,322
Yorkshire |544,391 |690,657 |754,726 |858,966
Lancashire |552,873 |485,988 |562,862 |750,475
Bona Vacantia in the County Palatine of
Lancaster |979,027 |839,845 |804,977 |938,597
Northamptonshire and Buckinghamshire |140,604 |157,223 |176,300 |161,424
Greater London |789,755 |1,299,000 |1,409,861 |1,473,881
Miscellaneous (Lincolnshire, Mid-Glamorgan, Leicestershire,
Sussex and elsewhere) |97,452 |115,594 |85,297 |87,630
|----------|----------|----------|----------
Total |4,033,230 |4,652,050 |4,893,747 |5,383,816
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Computer Projects
Mr. Pendry : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will publish a table setting out for the period since 9 April (a) each tender issued by his Department for projects requiring the supply of (i) computer hardware and (ii) computer software, (b) a description of the services required, (c) the number of companies which were invited to tender, (d) the number of companies which submitted a bid without prior invitation by his Department, (e) which company was awarded the contract, (f) the value of each contract and (g) the length of period over which the contract will run.
Mr. Robert Jackson : This information is not held centrally and can only be supplied at disproportionate cost.
ACCOMMODATION AND WORKS COMMITTEE
7 Old Palace Yard
Dr. Hampson : To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee what has been the cost of the recent refurbishment of 7 Old Palace Yard.
Mr. Ray Powell : I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. and learned Member for Perth and Kinross (Sir N. Fairbairn) on 23 October, Official Report, column 399.
LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT
Magistrates
Mr. Nigel Evans : To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many magistrates have resigned or retired since 1 October ; and how many magistrates have resigned or retired in October in each year since 1987.
Mr. John M. Taylor : The figures including those for the area within the responsibility of the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster are :
|Number
---------------------------------
To 23 October 1992 |119
October 1991 |156
October 1990 |121
October 1989 |145
October 1988 |<1>104
October 1987 |<1>94
<1> Approximate.
OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT
Chernobyl
Mr. Dafis : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance has been granted by her Department to (a) the victims of the Chernobyl disaster and (b) areas affected by the disaster ; and how much money has been allocated to (a) purchase non- contaminated food and (b) purchase medical equipment for hospitals.
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Mr. Lennox-Boyd : The know-how fund is financing two
Chernobyl-related projects. We have allocated £400,000 to advise how to measure radiation concentration in foodstuffs produced in Kiev region and £220,000 to prioritise clean-up requirements and prepare follow-up project proposals.
In 1991, we provided £2 million emergency medical aid--essential drugs and equipment--to the former Soviet Union--FSU--of which Ukraine received more than a third.
The European Community has agreed a food and medical aid loan to the FSU. Ukraine's share is 130 mecu. We understand Ukraine intends to use 104 mecu on food and 26 mecu for medical products.
Know-how Funds
Mr. Ottaway : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress of the know-how fund for central and eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union ; and if he will give details on specific projects so far approved this year for each eligible country.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : Further to my written answer of 29 June 1992, Official Report, column 371, the know-how fund is continuing well. The amount spent or committed has increased to £95 million to cover more than 650 projects.
An updated list of the activities has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
Somalia
Mr. Ottaway : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further assistance has been provided to alleviate the plight of the people of Somalia.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : Our total humanitarian aid for Somalia in 1992 is almost £27 million, including our share of EC aid.
It includes £1.5 million in response to the appeal of the International Committee of the Red Cross on 9 July. This is for the ICRC's food programme under which hot meals are provided via some 600 communal kitchens to over half a million beneficiaries. We also provided £1 million for the British Red Cross to use for its medical/health care programme in Somalia, as a national contribution towards ICRC's operations.
On 15 September, my right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for Overseas Development announced a further £7.5 million to support British and international non-governmental organisations and United Nations relief operations in Somalia. Priority is being given to providing seeds and tools, helping with transport and medical supplies, and rehabilitation services.
South Africa
Mr. Paice : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the deployment of observers to South Africa in accordance with the terms of United Nations Security Council resolution 772.
Mr. Hurd : The United Nations, the EC, the Commonwealth and the Organisation of African Unity
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are all sending groups of observers to South Africa. Their role will be to seek, by their presence in situations of potential conflict, to prevent violence, defuse tension and promote peace. They will be operating in close co-operation with each other, and with the National Peace Secretariat--as well as with the United Nations and observer teams from other international organisations.There will be 15 EC observers drawn from throughout the Community. The majority of participants have a police background. Two of them are British. They will arrive in South Africa on 29 October. The EC is also providing six police experts to be attached to Judge Goldstone's recently-established investigative task forces. A senior British police officer will act as the co-ordinator of the team. This officer arrived in South Africa on 7 October.
The Commonwealth has recruited 20 observers to play a similar role to that of the EC group. One of the group is a United Kingdom police officer.
The 50 United Nations observers are drawn from the staff of the United Nations secretariat. The composition of the OAU group is still under discussion.
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