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Mr. Dafis : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to extend the remit of planning controls to cover the area below the low water mark in and around the coast of Wales.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : In response to the second report from the House of Commons Select Committee on the Environment, "Coastal Zone Protection and Planning", the Government gave a commitment to review regulation of activities below the low water mark and to issue a discussion paper.
Minerals Permissions
Mr. Dafis : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many times the powers introduced by the Town and Country Planning (Minerals) Act 1981 have been utilised in Wales in each year since 1981.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : Information on the use of the powers by mineral planning authorities is not collected centrally ; but one order, to prohibit resumption of mineral working, has so far been submitted to the Secretary of State for confirmation and is currently under consideration.
Mr. Dafis : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will introduce legislation to reduce the life of mineral permissions from 60 years to 10 years ;
(2) if he will make it his policy to place a statutory obligation on all new mineral permission applications to include conditions specifying the timing and content of subsequent reviews of such permission ;
(3) if he will make it his policy to issue guidelines granting mineral planning authorities in Wales the right to revoke or substantially amend mining permissions without compensation where workings would (a) damage nationally-designated sites, (b) cause an unacceptable level of environmental change to important non-designated sites or (c) damage important water resources.
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Mr. Gwilym Jones : Responses to the consultation paper on old mineral permissions issued by the Government in March, in which various possibilities for dealing with problems were discussed, are under consideration. Further consultation is likely before detailed proposals are implemented.
Mr. Dafis : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to impose a statutory duty on mineral planning authorities in Wales to review all existing minerals permissions during the next four years ; and if he will allow mineral planning authorities to request environmental assessments as part of such a review.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : Responses to the Government's consultation paper on old mineral permissions issued in March, in which the possibility of a four-year review was discussed, are under consideration. Further consultation is likely before detailed proposals are implemented. The Town and Country Planning (Assessment of Environmental Effects) Regulations 1988 do not apply to existing permissions.
Mr. Dafis : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to issue guidelines to mineral planning authorities on compensation levels and the use of enforcement powers.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : Guidance on these issues can be found in mineral planning guidance note--MPG2--"Applications Permissions and Conditions", MPG4, "The Review of Mineral Working Sites", and planning policy guidance note 18, "Enforcing Planning Control".
Initial consultation has taken place on the operation of the provisions of the Town and Country Planning (Minerals) Act 1981 and the compensation arrangements under it.
Planning Policy
Mr. Dafis : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to amend planning policy guidance note 7 produced by his Department so as to make reference to the design and quality expectations of industrial and commercial developments, including the utilisation of locally appropriate building materials, and the encouragement of the re-use of derelict buildings.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : No. Appropriate advice is already given in planning policy guidance note 7 and in annex A--design
considerations--of planning policy guidance note 1.
Mr. Dafis : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will amend planning policy guidance note 7 to draw attention to the Town and Country Planning (Assessment of Environmental Effects) Regulations 1988.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : The 1988 regulations are already referred to in paragraph 2.7 of the revised planning policy guidance note 7 issued in January this year.
Mr. Dafis : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will amend planning policy guidance notes to include a clear description of the special nature of rural developments.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : No. Planning policy guidance note 7, "The Countryside and Rural Economy", provides
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comprehensive policy guidance on development in the countryside generally, together with advice on the special considerations which apply in designated areas.Mr. Dafis : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will delete the statement in planning policy guidance note 7 that planning authorities should consider the likely effect on the operation of the business when considering enforcement action.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : Advice on enforcing planning control is found in planning policy guidance note 18. I see no reason to amend that guidance at present.
Mr. Dafis : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will amend planning policy guidance notes to indicate circumstances in which the use of development plan policies can be used to limit change of use rights.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : Welsh Office circular 24/87 recognises that it may very exceptionally be appropriate for a local planning authority in determining a particular planning application to impose a condition restricting the use to which the land or buildings may subsequently be put. But development plans should not include policies which would generally restrict the freedoms available under the use classes order and the general development order to make certain changes of use without the need for specific planning permission.
Marine Unit
Mr. Dafis : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will establish a specialist marine unit within his Department.
Mr. Dafis : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to issue guidance to local authorities on the practice of charging fees for pre-application advice on development proposals.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : The courts have held that local planning authorities have no power to charge fees for providing
pre-application advice about development proposals. The Government consider that pre-application discussions are beneficial and local planning authorities are encouraged to continue this practice.
Local Government Reform
Mr. Dafis : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the relationship between the proposed new independent national park authorities and the new unitary authorities proposed in the local government reform package.
Sir Wyn Roberts : The Government's proposals for establishing independent national park authorities are set out in the Government's statement on the policies for national parks issued in January 1992. Detailed proposals on the structure of such park authorities and other related issues are presently under consideration.
Neath and Port Talbot Hospital
Mr. Hain : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the current status of the approval for the new Neath and Port Talbot hospital given by the Welsh Office in April 1991.
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Mr. Gwilym Jones : My right hon. Friend's statement on 29 October made clear the continuing commitment to a new hospital on the Baglan site.
Mid Glamorgan Ambulance Service
Dr. Kim Howells : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many patients were transported by Mid Glamorgan ambulance service ; and how many ambulance journeys were logged by Mid Glamorgan ambulance service, in each year since 1987-88.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : No information is collected centrally on the number of patients transported by ambulance or the number of ambulance journeys made. However information on the number of patient journeys is collected and is given as follows.
Number of patient journeys<1> logged by Mid Glamorgan Health Authority Year |Number ------------------------ 1987-88 |300,866 1988-89 |298,425 1989-90 |197,933 1990-91 |248,409 1991-92 |277,691 <1>A patient journey relates to a single journey made by one person in an ambulance. Thus a return journey from a visit to a hospital is counted as a second patient journey and if an ambulance carried six patients at the same time it is counted as six journeys.
Heart Disease
Mr. Alex Carlile : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many deaths were attributable to heart disease in Wales in 1985, 1990 and 1991 ; what proposals he has to reduce heart disease in Wales ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : The number of deaths to residents of Wales in 1985, 1990 and 1991, where the underlying cause of death was ischaemic heart disease--ICD 9th revision 410-414--was 10,265, 9,438 and 9,541 respectively (Source : Office of Population Censuses and Surveys).
In March 1985, Heartbeat Wales was launched as a national demonstration project to combat coronary heart disease. The project has since been subsumed into the comprehensive work programme of the Health Promotion Authority for Wales.
Additionally, in May 1991, the Welsh Health Planning Forum published advice to the NHS in Wales in the form of a protocol for investment in health gain in cardiovascular diseases. The protocol identifies where further investment could bring worthwhile health gain and indicates where current practices might be improved and redirection of funds might be considered. It is a key input in the production of local strategies for health by health authorities.
Typhoid Fever
Mr. Alex Carlile : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many cases of typhoid fever in Wales were reported in 1988, 1990 and 1992 ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : The data requested are presented in the table :
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Cases of typhoid fever reported in Wales
|Cases of Number
------------------------------------------------
<1>1988 |0
<1>1990 |2
<2><3>1992 |2
Sources: Office of Population Censuses and
Surveys.
<1> Communicable disease statistics (MB2
Series.)
<2> Weekly return (WR Series).
<3> To week ending 16 October 1992.
Mr. Alex Carlile : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will set up an independent inquiry concerning the case of Mr. Stanley Gregory, who was injured recently whilst in the care of Cartrefi Cymru ; what proposals he has to set out guidelines on staffing for community care ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : Mr. Stanley Gregory, was unfortunately injured in an accident at his home in Forden, Powys on Thursday 22 October 1992.
I understand that immediately following the accident Cartrefi Cymru the organisation employed to provide care and support for Mr. Gregory initiated an investigation into the circumstances that led up to the incident. That report has been made available to the Welsh Office, Powys health authority and Powys social services department. I further understand that a joint investigation will be set up immediately between the social services department, the health authority and Cartrefi Cymru further to investigate the incident, review procedures and training programmes and make recommendations for the future in order that such accidents are prevented. In addition, Cartrefi Cymru is also reviewing its own procedures and guidelines. Mr. Gregory has been provided with, and will continue to receive, independent advocate advice as to his rights and position in this matter. Until these investigations and reports are finalised, it would be premature to instigate an independent inquiry. I will require the findings to be sent to the Welsh Office and will take any appropriate action if we are not satisfied as to the findings and conclusions.
Policy and guidelines on the support and accommodation for people with a mental handicap are set out in Welsh Office circular 1/91, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.
Housing Associations
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will make it his policy to strengthen the role of housing associations in making sensitive provision to meet special needs and community needs in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : I am satisified that housing associations are already well aware of the sensitivities involved in providing such housing.
Domestic Rates
Mr. Nigel Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many appeals are still outstanding relating to bills received under the old domestic rating system.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : There is one outstanding lands tribunal appeal.
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Development Board for Rural Wales
Mr. Alan Williams : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when the Development Board for Rural Wales first told the Welsh Office that the Comptroller and Auditor General was considering qualifying the Development Board for Rural Wales's accounts.
Mr. David Hunt : On 21 August 1991.
Business Rates
Mr. Nigel Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many appeals were still outstanding on 1 November relating to bills received under the uniform business rate.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : In respect of the 1990 non-domestic rating list as at 31 October, the latest date at which the information is available, there were 22,600 outstanding proposals of which 20,300 had been passed by valuation offices to valuation tribunals as appeals.
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Hazardous Waste
Mr. Dafis : To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he will list the non-Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries to which the United Kingdom transported hazardous waste for recycling for the latest year for which figures are available indicating the volume of the waste transported to each country ;
(2) how many transfers of hazardous waste were transported for recycling from the United Kingdom to non-OECD countries for the latest year for which figures are available ; and what was the total tonnage of the waste transported.
Countries |Tonnes --------------------------------- South Africa |6,998 Indonesia |1,652 Dubai |1,562 Thailand |1,410 South Korea |991 Hong Kong |688 Saudi Arabia |678 Taiwan |696 India |553
The total tonnage of such waste exported from the United Kingdom to non- OECD countries in 1991 was 16,300 tonnes. Information on the number of transfers of hazardous waste for recovery from the United Kingdom to non- OECD countries is not held centrally and would be available only at disproportionate cost.
As the figures that the hon. Member is seeking may be subject to restrictions of commercial confidentiality, I shall write to the hon. Member more fully as soon as the most accurate picture can be established.
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Electricity
Mrs. Dunwoody : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the average price increase for domestic electricity in 1990-91.
Mr. Eggar : The average price increase for domestic electricity in 1990-91, over the corresponding period 12 months earlier, was 8.6 per cent.
Mr. Robert Banks : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the cost per unit for domestic electricity consumption, adjusted for inflation, for each of the previous 10 years.
Mr. Eggar : The average prices per unit, including standing charges, for electricity supplied to domestic consumers for each of the last 10 years are given in the table.
Year |Pence per KWh at
|1991 prices<1>
---------------------------------------------------
1982 |8.31
1983 |8.24
1984 |7.96
1985 |7.71
1986 |7.55
1987 |7.13
1988 |7.01
1989 |7.12
1990 |7.11
1991 |7.28
<1> Cash figures adjusted to 1991 price levels by
excluding the effect of general inflation as
measured by the GDP deflator.
Figures for 1992 are not yet available. However, increases in domestic electricity prices in April 1992 averaged about 2 per cent., well below the rate of inflation.
Institution of Electrical Engineers
Mr. Pawsey : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what response he has made to the survey of manufacturing industry by the Institution of Electrical Engineers ; and what plans he has to commission further surveys from the institution.
Mr. Sainsbury : No formal response was asked for or has been made to the report from the public affairs body of the Institution of Electrical Engineers. However, my Department welcomes this interesting contribution.
Travel Agents
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will bring forward proposals for legislation under which all travel agents trading as public limited companies would be required to display their most recent balance sheet and profit and loss account in their trading offices.
Post Office Report
Mr. Hain : To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his written answer of 2 November on the Kleinwort Benson report on the Post Office, if he will make available a copy of the report in confidence to the hon. Member for Neath.
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Mr. Leigh : Any reports produced by the Government's advisers on the Post Office are internal Government documents. I do not intend, therefore, to make such documents available outside Government and I do not intend to make a copy of Kleinwort Benson's report on the Post Office available to the hon. Member for Neath.
Iraq
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what arrangements exist in his Department to trace whether nuclear materials originating from the United Kingdom have been exported for use in Iraq.
Mr. Needham : The Government have requested the United Nations Special Commission and the International Atomic Energy Authority to give us confidentially details of any evidence of involvement by British companies in Iraq's weapons of mass destruction programmes, including the supply of nuclear materials. Any indication of wrongdoing will be urgently investigated and if export controls have been breached, it will be a matter for the courts.
Cleaner Technology Group
Mr. Cousins : To ask the President of the Board of Trade when the inter-departmental group on cleaner technology was set up ; and how many times it has met so far.
Mr. Eggar : The interdepartmental liaison group on cleaner technology was established in December 1991. It has met twice and is next scheduled to meet in January 1993.
Aerospace Industry
Mrs. Ann Winterton : To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he last visited British Aerospace at Woodford, Cheshire.
Mr. Sainsbury : During his time as President of the Board of Trade, my right hon. Friend has not visited British Aerospace at Woodford, Cheshire.
Mrs. Ann Winterton : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what has been the total value of exports of aerospace products in each of the last 12 quarters for which figures are available.
Mr. Needham : The most recent available data for the total value of exports of aerospace products, quarterly, not seasonally adjusted, are from the business monitor overseas trade statistics.
Values £ billion
|Exports
------------------------
1990
Q1 |1.65
Q2 |1.94
Q3 |1.99
Q4 |2.37
1991
Q1 |1.63
Q2 |2.00
Q3 |2.24
Q4 |2.09
1992
Q1 |1.79
Q2 |1.90
Q3 |1.75
We have used parts of divisions 7, 8 and 9 of the standard international trade classification (revision 3) which cover aerospace systems, propulsion devices and equipment.
Tunisian Imports
Mr. Shersby : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the value of imports from Tunisia for the most recent 12 month period for which figures are available.
Mr. Needham : In the 12 months ending September 1992, the value of United Kingdom visible imports from Tunisia was £42.3 million.
Departmental Properties
Mr. Redmond : To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list, for each local authority area in South Yorkshire, how many residential properties are currently owned by his Department ; and if he will list, by location, those residential properties which are empty, giving the type of accommodation available, the length of time each property has been vacant, and its intended future use.
Mr. Eggar : My Department has no residential properties in south Yorkshire.
Business (Legislative Burdens)
Mr. David Porter : To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will investigate a survey into costs imposed on small and rural businesses by legislation, local government requirements and Common Market directives ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Neil Hamilton : Under the deregulation initiative, assessments of compliance and enforcement costs are among the factors taken into account by Ministers when considering proposals for new regulation and in negotiations on EC measures. There is also a continuing programme of work across Whitehall aimed at reducing significantly existing administrative and regulative burdens on business, particularly small businesses, whether imposed by central or local government or the EC. Currently, all regulatory departments are considering their programmes of work under the initiative for 1993 and beyond.
Biofuels
Mr. David Porter : To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will include in his review of energy policy a study into the viability of biofuels ; and if he will make a statement.
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Mr. Eggar : The terms of the review were announced in the answer of my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade to my hon. Friend the Member for Broxtowe (Mr. Lester) on 26 October, Official Report, column 522-23.
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EC Used Machinery Directive
Mr. David Porter : To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the steps he is proposing to take to investigate the impact on farmers of the proposed used machinery directive ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Leigh : My Department has conducted wide-ranging consultations with sectors likely to be affected by a directive on used machinery, including the farming industry. We have concluded that no such directive is necessary and that new controls in this area could impose heavy costs. Following firm opposition from the United Kingdom and other member states, the European Commission has not put forward its proposal to the Council.
Reports
Mr. Tipping : To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will now place in the Library the Oakes report, the Boyds report and the Rothschild report commissioned by his Department.
Mr. Eggar : No. The reports were commissioned on a confidential basis and contain detailed information which is commercially confidential.
Agencies
Mr. Redmond : To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list by grade the numbers of staff and their cost for 1991-92 and the estimated figures for 1992-93, for each executive agency for which he is responsible.
Mr. Eggar : Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the chief executives of the 10 agencies for which my Department is responsible. I have therefore asked Mr. Mike Hoddinott, Accounts Services Agency ; Mr. David Durham, companies House ; Mr. Peter Joyce, Insolvency Service ; Dr. Richard worswick, Laboratory of the Government Chemist ; Mr. William Edgar, National Engineering Laboratory ; Dr. Peter Clapham, National Physical Laboratory ; Dr. Seton Bennett, National Weights and Measures Laboratory ; Mr. Paul Hartnack, Patent Office ; Mr. John Michell, Radiocommunications Agency ; and Dr. Doug Cormack, Warren Spring Laboratory to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from M. J. Mitchell to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 3 November 1992 :
The President of the Board of Trade has asked me to reply to your Parliamentary Question of 27 October about staffing in the Radiocommunications Agency. The information you request is as follows :
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