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Department of the Environment to docklands. I did so in the light of advice that exceptional value for money was available there. I made it clear that I intended to secure fully commercial terms giving value for money to the taxpayer. I fully expected to be able to do so.Subsequently, it emerged that rents elsewhere in London were falling rapidly and sharply. In pursuit of value for money my Department commissioned a further study to look at other locations, including the future availability of sites on the existing Government estate. Steps were also taken to establish the feasibility of remaining in Marsham street beyond the end of 1993 and precisely how much it would cost.
The further work led us to conclude that taking account of falling rents and the considerable and continuing staff related costs involved in a move to docklands, such a move did not now represent best value for money for the Department. Nor, given the present severe constraints on public spending, could I now justify the substantial one-off costs of a move in 1993-94. The study of 2 Marsham street has shown that it is both safe and affordable to remain there for a period although the building will, in due course, have to be pulled down.
The Government has therefore decided that the Department of the Environment should remain in Marsham street for about three years, and use the intervening period to find the most suitable accommodation at the best value for money for the taxpayer.
Poll Tax Arrears
Mr. Vaz : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the current poll tax arrears for each local authority in England.
Mr. Robin Squire [holding answer 10 November 1992] : I refer the hon. Member to my answer given on 6 November to the hon. Member for Cheltenham (Mr. Jones), Official Report, column 370.
Street Lighting
Ms. Richardson : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidelines are currently provided for the improvement of street lighting in the interests of safety for women.
Mr. Norris [holding answer 9 November 1992] : I have been asked to reply.
Road lighting is generally installed to conform with British Standard codes of practice. Earlier this year the BS published BS 5489 : Part 3 : 1992 code of practice for lighting subsidiary roads and associated pedestrian areas. This code requires an assessment to be made whether the crime risk is high, average or low. The recommended lighting design is then related to the crime risk.
Public Record Office
95. Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many papers his Department has currently withdrawn from the Public Record Office ; if he will list their titles ; and when he estimates that they will be returned.
Mr. Howard : Government Departments have a statutory right under the Public Record Acts to retrieve records temporarily from the Public Record Office for
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their own administrative use. My Department currently has 28 records out on loan, as listed. Some of these are with the Department of National Heritage, for whom my Department continues to provide a records management service. Records are returned as soon as departmental action has been completed.File Titles of Records temporarily withdrawn from Public Record Office
1. Caravan sites ; Certificates of exemptions ; policy. 2. Interdepartmental committee on atomic health and safety. 3. Stanton Drew : Acquisition or preservation.
4. St. John's Lodge : Proposals for future use.
5. St. John's Lodge : Lease of Bedford College.
6. Duck Island Lodge : Works.
7. Longford River : Diversion.
8. Temporary Cenotaph : Disposal of original model.
9. Scope of Metropolitan Statues Act.
10. Green Park : Three plans by Barry.
11. Procedure in the event of death of Sir Winston Churchill. 12. St. Just, Cornwall.
13. Silchester, Hampshire.
14. Dewsbury, Yorks : Moot Hall.
15. Tower of London : Crown Jewels (two records).
16. Tower of London : Jewel House Site.
17. Aycliffe Development Corporation.
18. Hatfield : Town Centre revised development proposals. 19. Dawley (Telford DC) Development Corporation : Appointment of members.
20. Letchworth Garden City Development Corporation : Appointment of members.
21. Water Undertakings : Welsh National Water Development Authority.
22. Town and Country Planning Act 1947 : Mineral Regulations (two records).
23. Dolomite : Doncaster.
24. Extension of existing spoil heaps.
25. Wellington museum (two records).
Tree Preservation Orders
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the current statutes and regulations governing tree preservation orders in England and the dates on which they took effect.
Mr. Howard : The information requested is as follows :
|Came into force
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Primary legislation
Town and Country Planning Act 1990 |24 August 1990
Planning and Compensation Act 1991,
section 23 |6 January 1992
Regulations
Town and Country Planning (Tree
Preservation Order) Regulations 1969 |10 February 1969
Town and Country Planning (Tree
Preservation Order) (Amendment) and
(Trees in Conservation Areas) (Exempted
Cases) Regulations 1975 |12 March 1975
Town and Country Planning (Tree
Preservation Order) (Amendment)
Regulations 1981 |13 January 1981
Town and Country Planning (Tree
Preservation Order) (Amendment)
Regulations 1988 |30 June 1988
Departmental Properties
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment 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
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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.Cash Limits
Mr. Anthony Coombs : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has to change his Department's cash limits and running costs limit for 1992-93.
Mr. Howard : Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimates, the following changes will be made : (
(i) the cash limit for class VIII, vote 2 (miscellaneous housing administration and grants) will be reduced by £11,090,000 from £285, 894,000 to £274,804,000. This decrease reflects a reduced requirement for expenditure on Housing Action Trusts (HATs) as a result of delays in the programmes for the four prospective HATs (Liverpool, Birmingham, Brent and Tower Hamlets) and slippage and economies in the programmes of the two established HATs (North Hull and Waltham Forest).
(ii) the cash limit for class VIII, vote 5 (central environmental services etc.) will be increased by £1,855,000 from £315,272,000 to £317,127,000. The increase includes provision for the new UK Ecolabelling Board ; additional grant-in-aid to the Countryside Commission resulting from the partial take up of the end year flexibility entitlement, as announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 15 July 1992 (Official Report, columns 698-702) ; additional grant-in-aid to English Nature ; increased expenditure on international contributions ; and increased grant for water supply and sewerage in assisted areas. These increases are partially offset by reductions made elsewhere on the vote. The cash limit change also reflects certain other minor adjustments to subheads within the Vote and makes provision for transfers to class VIII, vote 4 and the Overseas Development Administration to fund African elephant conservation projects.
(iii) the cash limit for class VIII, vote 8 (Department of the Environment : administration) will be reduced by £600,000 from £211, 622,000 to £211,022,000 and the Department's running costs limit will be increased by £283,000 from £201,616,000 to £201,899,000. The changes include various interdepartmental transfers ; the start-up costs of the relocation unit which is being funded from within existing provision ; savings resulting from the dissolution of the Local Government Boundary Commission and reduced receipts from Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution. It is the Department's intention to seek Parliamentary approval for these changes in a spring Supplementary Estimate for class VIII, vote 8.
(iv) the cash limit for class VIII, vote 9 (revenue support grant, payment of non-domestic rates, valuation office rating services, etc., England) will be decreased by £7,037,000 from £29,530,333,000 to £29,523,296,000. The decrease reflects a change in the timing of payments of the council tax preparation grant ; 66 per cent. will now be paid in 1992-93 with the balance paid in 1993-94.
(v) The DoE/UA non-voted cash limit will be increased by £28,354, 000 from £989,095,000 to £1,017,449,000. This includes an increase of £12,100,000 for Olympic preparations ; it also includes increased grant-in-aid of £15,555,000 to the London Docklands development corporation for work on extensions to the Docklands light railway and associated administration costs. This will be offset in part by a reduction of £1,900,000 in the
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Department of Transport's cash limit for class VII, vote 2. A further £14,190,000 is required for the Bristol spine road, land purchase in Leeds, reclamation and workspace provision in Merseyside and to increase the resources for local authority sector derelict land grant. £3,800,000 is being made available for assistance following colliery closures. There have been savings of £11,391,000 from city grant and derelict land grant as well as a £4,000,000 increase in derelict land grant receipts.(vi
the Doe/HC non-voted cash limit will be increased by £700,000 from £1,706,500,000 to £1,707,200,000. This increase results from the full take-up of end year flexibility entitlement as announced by the Chief Secretary on 15 July 1992 ( Official Report, cols 698-702 ). (
(vii) the DoE/LACAP non-voted cash limit will be increased by £6, 540,000 from £2,908,289,000 to £2,914,829,000. This increase reflects the transfer to the Estate Action programme of £6,294,000 of the savings on Housing Action Trusts ; £1,403,000 full take-up of end year flexibility entitlement as announced by the Chief Secretary on 15 July 1992 ( Official Report, cols. 698-702 ) ; and an increase of £310,000 in estate action grant. It also reflects savings of £1, 467,000 in the revenue element of slum clearance and renovation grants.
(viii) the DoE/OES non-voted cash limit will be reduced by £40,117, 000 from £149,133,000 to £109,016,000. The reduction reflects lower than expected take-up by local authorities of supplementary credit approvals for certain waste initiatives and takes account of an increase in payments on class VIII, vote 4.
(ix) the national loans fund cash limit for housing action trusts (HATs) will be reduced by £2,004,000 from £2,004,000 to zero. This decrease reflects a reduced requirement on HATs as a result of delays in the programmes for the four prospective HATs (Liverpool, Birmingham, Brent and Tower Hamlets) and slippage and economies in the programmes of the two established HATs (North Hull and Waltham Forest).
These changes are reflected in the forecast outturn for the planning total included in the Chancellor's autumn statement today.
Property Services Agency
Mr. David Evans : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what changes he proposes to make to the cash limit on the Property Services Agency services vote in 1992-93.
Mr. Redwood : Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limt for class VIII, vote 12 will be increased by £55,109,000 from £128,885,000 to £183,994,000. The increase will not constitute a claim on the Reserve as it will be netted of the proceeds from the Government's privatisation programme.
The estimate is sought to secure provision, mainly for the subscription of shares, so that the sale of PSA Projects may proceed as planned in December 1992. The cash asset reflects the currently estimated net liabilities of PSA Projects at end November 1992. These are £5,331,000 greater than those on which all prospective purchasers based their bids in the knowledge that, in the event of any under-or over-estimation, the sale consideration would be adjusted pound for pound. The impact is to increase the negative consideration payable at completion to £55,109,000. A completion statement will be prepared to quantify the actual liabilities at the date of sale and the sale consideration will be subject to further adjustment for any
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difference between the estimated and actual net liabilities whether in favour of the vendor or purchaser. Parliament will be advised of the final position at that time.The consideration will also be subject to adjustment depending on the number of transferred staff in the business a year after the sale.
Expenditure on advisors fees incurred in preparing for the BM sales and in completing the Projects sale may be subject to revision in a spring supplementary estimate depending on progress of work and bills tendered.
The increase in this cash limit is within the forecast outturn for the planning total included in the Chancellor's autumn statement today.
Local Government Finance
Mr. David Evans : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are his proposals for the appropriate level of aggregate local authority spending in 1993-94 ; and what is the level of central support for that spending.
Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will issue the consultation paper on the Government proposals for revenue support grant for 1993-94.
Mr. Howard : I propose that total standard spending for 1993-94 should be £41.142 billion for England. This represents an increase of £1.224 billion (3.1 per cent.) compared with this year's figure after adjustments for changes in local authority functions, including the transfer of most responsibilities for further education from authorities to the Further Education Funding Council on 1 April 1993. The total also includes the amount of £539 million for the transitional community care special grant announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health on 2 October.
This is a realistic increase when account is taken of falling inflation, public sector pay restraint in line with the announcement by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor today, and the extensive opportunities which authorities have to improve efficiency and value for money.
I propose that the level of aggregate external finance distributed to local authorities in 1993-94 should be £33.518 billion. This represents an increase of £1.167 billion (3.7 per cent.) after allowing for functional changes. It also includes the special grant for community care. This level of aggregate external finance means that the amount which authorities need to raise from local taxpayers in 1993-94 should be less in real terms than is being raised by the community charge this year.
I also propose that the national non-domestic rate multiplier for 1993-94 in England should rise by 3.5 per cent. to 0.416, in line with the rate of inflation. This will ensure that once again businesses will benefit from the Government's success in reducing inflation.
I shall announce proposals for the distribution of Government grants in 1993-94 later this month. At the same time, I intend to announce my capping proposals. I shall also set out my proposals for a scheme of transitional assistance to those households which face a significant increase in their local tax bills following the introduction of the council tax.
In the present difficult economic climate, both central and local government need to play their part in restraining expenditure to a level that the country can afford. Against that background, these proposals for total standard
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spending, aggregate external finance and the national non-domestic rate multiplier provide a sound framework for the funding of local authority services in 1993-94. Provided that authorities act responsibly, this settlement should allow them to maintain the services they provide next year.TRANSPORT
Vehicle Inspectorate
Ms. Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will extend the consultation period for the vehicle inspectorate beyond 30 November and extend the list of organisations consulted to include all those concerned with road safety and traffic-related environmental issues.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : No. The consultation paper on options for the future of the vehicle inspectorate (VI) allowed ample time--11 weeks--for comment, and was sent to a broad range of road safety and environmental interests.
Okehampton Bypass
Mr. Steen : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many acres of land have been obtained, and at what cost, as public open space to compensate the loss to the public of open space as a result of the compulsory purchase order and the building of the Okehampton bypass.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : A total of 5.2 acres of land is being acquired under compulsory purchase powers in exchange for open space land at Bluebell Woods taken for the construction of the bypass. The purchase price is confidential between the Department and the vendor.
My Department has also used its best endeavours to make other purchases of land in mitigation of the effects of the bypass, but has no compulsory powers to do this ; 6.2 acres of land have been purchased from British Rail, near Okehampton station ; this land is now known as Station Wood and is available to the public. Negotiations with another landowner concerning land near Okehampton castle have proved unsuccessful.
2 Marsham Street
Mr. Mans : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he proposes that his Department should vacate 2 Marsham street ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. John MacGregor : I have decided on value for money grounds that my Department will remain in 2 Marsham street for around the next three years. This decision follows a study of the options for relocation conducted during the summer.
My decision takes account both of the constraints on public expenditure and the results of a study by consultants which concluded that 2 Marsham street could continue to provide affordable and safe working conditions for several more years.
In the longer term, the building will have to be demolished and my Department will therefore be seeking suitable accommodation when a move becomes necessary.
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Clapham Junction Accident
Sir Anthony Durant : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many of the recommendations in the Hidden report into the rail accident at Clapham junction have now been implemented.
Mr. Freeman : All the recommendations for British Rail and the British Transport Police have either been or are being implemented. The board's 1992 safety plan demonstrates the current safety initiatives underway, and the considerable resources BR is devoting to maintaining and improving its good safety record. Copies of the safety plan are available in the Library of the House.
Civil Aviation Authority
Mr. Shersby : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the current external financing limit for the Civil Aviation Authority.
Mr. Norris : The CAA's EFL for 1992-93 has been reduced by £1.1 million to £65.6 million. This is a technical adjustment reflecting the receipt of a European regional development fund (ERDF) grant for £1.1 million. The funds available to the CAA for investment will not be affected by this change.
ading Severn Bridge Mr. Gareth Wardell : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will consider making an exemption from toll charges of disabled drivers crossing the Severn bridge.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : Section 8(5) of the Severn Bridges Act 1992 already exempts from tolls at the Severn bridge vehicles registered for use by disabled persons and exempt from vehicle excise duty, and vehicles being driven by disabled persons, or being used for their carriage, on which a current orange badge is displayed.
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will set out the factors affecting the permitted increase in the Severn bridge tolls from 1 January 1993 ; and what is their relationship to the retail prices index.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : Section 9 of the Severn Bridges Act 1992 sets out the method by which the tolls at the Severn bridge are to be fixed, including the adjustments to be made in respect of changes in the retail prices index.
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has had in relation to the increase in the level of tolls on the Severn bridge from 1 January 1993.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : We have received a number of representations from hon. Members.
Rail Privatisation
Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the companies that have expressed an interest in his rail privatisation proposals ; and if he will make a statement on the extent of private sector interest in his proposals.
Mr. Freeman : Before the issue of the consultation document on 12 October we had received expressions of
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interest about running franchised passenger railway services from around 50 companies. These approaches and subsequent ones arising from the consultation document are being treated as confidential. It would be inappropriate for me to list the companies or indicate the extent of their specific interests at this stage.Chelsea-Hackney Railway Line
Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how the route of the Chelsea-Hackney line has been safeguarded ; and when progress will be made on building it.
Mr. Norris : Safeguarding directions for the line were issued by the Secretary of State for Transport in exercise of the powers conferred by articles 14(1), 18(3) and 30 of the Town and Country Planning General Development Order 1988. Initial directions were issued on 7 February 1991 and revised directions issued on 12 November 1991.
I cannot say when the line will be built. Decisions will be taken in the context of future public expenditure rounds.
Jubilee Line
Ms. Jowell : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the proposed Jubilee line extension.
Mr. Norris : I refer the hon. Member to the statement made today by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
London Transport
Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on changes to the capital programmes of London Transport following the 1992 autumn statement.
Mr. Norris : London Transport will have to reassess its investment plans in the light of the funding announced in the autumn statement. Subject to that, I believe the settlement is sufficient to allow London Transport to invest £1.75 billion in the existing bus and underground system over the coming three years. This is some £0.5billion higher, in real terms, than investment over the past three years. The funding is also sufficient to allow preparatory work on Crossrail to continue. And provision has been made for the Jubilee line extension, so that it can go ahead if the administrators of Olympia and York can meet our conditions on the provision of private finance by them.
Cash Limits
Mr. Lester : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what changes he proposes to make to the cash limit and running costs limit for his Department for 1992-93. Mr. MacGregor : Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimates, the cash limits in class VII will be changed as follows :
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