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Mr. Maclean [holding answer 13 November 1992] : We will announce the results of the review when it is completed.
Mr. Gould : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what further announcements he proposes to make on the implications of the citizens charter for British Waterways.
Mr. Maclean [holding answer 13 November 1992] : The implementation of the charter is primarily a matter for British Waterways. We expect British Waterways, like other public bodies, to take account of the charter's principles in its relations with its customers and users.
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Mr. Gould : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has concluded his review of the role and function of the inland waterways amenity advisory committee.
Mr. Maclean [holding answer 13 November 1992] : We are consulting the chairman of the Inland Waterways Amenity Advisory Council and British Waterways on our proposals for the future of the council, and will make an announcement as soon as possible.
Mr. Gould : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table showing the number of miles of inland waterways dredged by British Waterways for each of the last 10 years broken down by commercial and cruising waterways and the remainder.
Mr. Maclean [holding answer 13 November 1992] : This is a matter for the British Waterways Board.
British Waterways Board
Mr. Gould : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he reappointed Mr. David Ingham as chairman of the British Waterways Board ; and for how long.
Mr. Maclean [holding answer 13 November 1992] : We are currently discussing with Mr. Ingram the terms of his reappointment. In the meantime, his appointment has been extended for one month until 21 November. A further announcement will be made shortly.
Home Repossessions
Mrs. Dunwoody : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many house repossession orders have been granted.
Mr. John M. Taylor : I have been asked to reply.
The latest figures on mortgage repossession actions are contained in an information bulletin which has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses of Parliament. These figures do not indicate how many houses have been repossessed through the courts as not all of the orders will have resulted in the issue and execution of warrants of possession. At this stage the 1992 figures are provisional and therefore liable to revision to take account of any late amendments.
OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT
UN Development Fund for Women
40. Ms. Eagle : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the United Kingdom contribution to the United Nations development fund for women in the present year and in 1979.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : We contributed £150,000 this year (1992). The fund was first created in 1984.
Kenya (Elections)
41. Mr. Cox : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance has been given to the Government of Kenya in conducting elections.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : We have agreed to provide ballot boxes, office equipment and training for electoral officials, at a cost of approximately £745,000.
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Aid and Trade
42. Ms. Glenda Jackson : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he will be taking in concert with his counterparts from the other Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries to ensure that aid to the third world is accompanied by trade.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : Britain's aid programme, like those of our OECD partners, promotes economic growth in developing countries through support for economic reform. We give priority to the promotion of export-led growth by helping the private sector to flourish. We are working hard for a successful completion to the Uruguay round.
Somalia
43. Mr. Matthew Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the overseas aid budget allocated to Somalia will be over the next year ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : This year Britain has committed almost £27 million of emergency humanitarian aid to Somalia including our share of EC aid. We shall continue to help. The amount of assistance we will be able to provide will be determined by need and the ability to deliver relief safely and effectively.
Sudan
44. Mr. Bowis : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to what extent Britain is able to contribute humanitarian aid directly or indirectly to the communities of southern Sudan.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : It is difficult for relief agencies to reach the needy in southern Sudan because of continued civil war. We provide emergency assistance through United Nations agencies and British non- governmental organisations as and when access to communities is available.
Mr. Robert Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on the current state of access for relief work being undertaken by representatives of the United Nations and non-governmental organisations in southern Sudan.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : The continuing civil war in southern Sudan is severely impeding humanitarian aid efforts by the United Nations and non- governmental organisations ; only small amounts are currently being delivered. We are pressing on all parties the need for humanitarian relief efforts to go ahead without interference.
Yugoslavia
45. Mr. Tyler : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the level of overseas aid to be allocated to the former Yugoslavia over the next year.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : We have committed more than £70 million for humanitarian aid to the former Yugoslavia up to the end of financial year 1992-93. This consists of £29.5 million bilaterally and a further £41 million which is our
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contribution to the EC's aid to the former Yugoslavia. This is in addition to our contribution of 2,400 British troops for the United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR) and a field ambulance unit of 260. Decisions on the levels of humanitarian aid to the former Yugoslavia in 1993-94 will depend upon events in the region.Food Aid
Mr. Spearing : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the approximate annual expenditure of the European Community on (a) food aid of an emergency character and (b) other food aid, in ecu and pound sterling, together with an estimate of the additional costs that would need to be carried by FEOGA for either category, if not funded under the Community aid budget.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : In 1991, the total cost to the Community aid budget of food aid for developing countries, including transport costs, was 590 mecu (£413 million). An accurate breakdown of costs between emergency and other food aid is not possible because of problems of definition but, in cost terms, approximately half of the programme went to five African countries severely affected by drought or civil strife : Angola, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Somalia and Sudan. In addition, according to the Commission, food aid to the value of 259 mecu (£181 million) was provided for Eastern Europe, including the former Soviet Union, funded mainly from FEOGA.
The transfer of part or all of the cost of food aid for developing countries from the aid budget to FEOGA would result in an increase in FEOGA costs of approximately the same size as the decrease in cost to the Community aid budget. Such a transfer would tend to re-establish the links between surplus disposal and food aid which successive British Governments have sought to break.
EC Initiatives
Mr. Meacher : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what specific initiatives have been taken by Her Majesty's Government during the course of Britain's presidency of the EC on (a) mutual and co-ordinated untying of aid by all EC donors, (b) reduction of debts owed by the poorest countries to the EC, to individual EC member countries and to commercial banks and (c) promoting development education in EC countries.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : At the Development Council on Wednesday 18 November 1992 the Commission will report on progress made during the British presidency of the EC on framing a proposal for the untying of aid at the Community level.
Britain has consistently been at the forefront of efforts to relieve the burden of debt on the poorest, most heavily indebted countries. As a result of the Prime Minister's Trinidad's term initiative, 10 countries have benefited from substantial reductions in their debts to governments. Debt servicing payments to the EC from loans made available under successive European development funds are recycled to provide new financing to developing countries.
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The United Kingdom, in common with its EC partners, is already encouraging commercial bank debt reduction through the Brady plan. No specific initiatives have been taken during our presidency to promote development education in EC countries.Non-governmental Organisations
Mr. Meacher : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the non-governmental organisations in receipt of grants from his Department for each year since 1990 ; and what was the size of each grant.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : Details of all grants to NGOs in 1989-90 and 1990- 91 are set out in the table. Similar details for the financial year 1991-92 are not immediately available but will be notified to the hon. Member within the next few weeks.
Agency |1989-90 |1990-91
|£ |£
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Acord |1,110,074 |1,508,600
Actionaid |1,235,250 |1,356,128
Action on Disability and Development |134,326 |142,142
Action Water |10,000 |-
Afghan Aid |1,700,000 |1,000,000
Africa Now |9,960 |28,601
African Medical and Research
Foundation |201,179 |400,281
Aga Khan Foundation |1,518,765 |1,718,034
AHRTAG |141,863 |231,503
Aid Armenia |12,261 |-
Aid for India |35,960 |-
Alternative for India Development |51,857 |96,184
Anti Slavery Society |34,361 |88,650
Appropriate Technology for Tibetans
Trust |- |17,822
Apt Design and Development |- |24,626
Association of Commonwealth
Universities |415,443 |431,252
Band Aid |- |49,581
Boys Brigade |13,219 |-
British Executive Services Overseas |360,000 |390,000
British Red Cross Society |271,763 |560,224
Business in the Community |- |10,000
Busoga Trust |33,333 |33,334
Care |7,146,494 |9,620,284
Catholic Fund for Overseas
Development |5,580,702 |7,837,864
Catholic Institute for International
Relations |1,252,195 |1,434,846
Child to Child |8,000 |8,000
Christian Aid |6,193,505 |8,811,828
Christian Outreach |267,000 |470,751
Christians Abroad |18,000 |23,659
Commonwealth Human Ecology
Council |22,659 |17,883
Commonwealth Trade Union Council |118,612 |54,560
Concern |1,122,367 |956,596
Conservation Foundation |123,790 |-
Consortium of Christian Agencies |- |30,000
Consumer Research Laboratory |- |14,097
Co-operation for Development |497,184 |158,029
Council for Education in World
Citizenship |4,000 |-
Cranfield Trust |- |15,000
Cusichaca project |37,000 |25,000
DPCCN |400,000 |-
Duke of Edinburgh award |77,000 |40,000
Durham Lesotho link |- |18,903
Equipment to charity hospitals
overseas |35,084 |25,000
Faith Foundation |- |33,600
Farm Africa |55,000 |387,253
Feed the Minds |8,330 |7,282
Find your Feet |- |7,611
Food for the Hungry |- |40,000
Forum |- |5,000
Friends of the Earth |- |6,014
Friends of Urambo and Mwanhala |- |17,180
Goal |50,000 |-
Great Britain China scholars |- |15,000
Gurkha Welfare Trust |- |476,642
Hand in Hand |7,397 |9,325
Havest Help |40,076 |30,581
Health Unlimited |175,893 |187,686
Help the Aged |282,695 |168,583
Henry Doubleday Research
Association |- |10,382
Homeless International |12,771 |75,561
Ideas aid International |- |20,000
Impact Foundation |7,096 |3,652
India Development Group |33,325 |33,077
Intercare |30,487 |43,936
Intermediate Technology Development
Group |277,763 |691,555
International agricultural training programme |37,950 |21,839
International Bee Research Association |32,000 |-
International Boys Town Trust |33,180 |-
International Committee of the Red
Cross |100,000 |1,900,000
International Council for Bird
Preservation |33,943 |69,594
International Extension College |249,796 |150,000
International Institute for Environment
and |63,000 |266,755
International Medical Relief |80,600 |-
International Planned Parenthood
Federation |- |7,168,000
International Rescue |23,816 |-
International Trust for Nature
Conservation |3,898 |2,830
Jalchatra Project |8,250 |-
Karuna Trust |- |16,255
King Mahendra Trust |14,750 |14,750
Leonard Cheshire Foundation |83,923 |114,303
Living Earth |61,400 |84,500
Luth World Federation |7,559 |-
Marie Stopes International |520,520 |602,309
Medical Aid for Palestinians |70,975 |54,369
Methodist Church |- |65,244
Money for Madagascar |3,600 |1,685
National Childrens Home |15,406 |19,150
New Age Access |13,500 |-
Ockenden Venture |248,536 |371,088
Opportunities for Women |55,490 |19,513
Order of St. John |125,000 |109,700
Overseas Development Institute |570,000 |411,280
Oxfam |5,810,354 |7,699,622
Passe Partout |10,675 |11,063
Plan |209,608 |304,722
Population Concern |272,392 |335,706
Quaker Peace and Service |- |4,064
Ranfurly Library Service |115,000 |100,099
Reed Charities |117,969 |37,890
Regional Conference on International
Volunta |5,000 |-
Richmond Fellowship |- |14,077
Royal Commonwealth Society for the
Blind |36,393 |261,279
Royal Geographic Society |- |15,000
Ryder Cheshire Mission |30,000 |40,000
Samburu Aid in Africa |- |22,000
Sandy Galls Afghanistan Appeal |134,000 |80,000
Save The Children Fund |6,201,958 |8,777,983
Scottish Catholic International Aid
Fund |74,515 |100,537
Scottish Education and Action for
Development |7,000 |-
Scripture Union |- |44,500
Semi arid lands training livestock
improvement |25,272 |17,451
Send a Cow |10,120 |12,950
Sheffield Health Authority |53,020 |10,591
Skillshare Africa |1,048,666 |1,194,501
SOS Sahel |176,846 |306,184
Special projects in Christian
Missionary area |115,217 |124,128
Tear Fund |58,749 |50,374
Toc H |- |9,124
Traidcraft exchange |22,341 |64,205
Trax |31,943 |25,257
Trust for Education and Development |2,000 |-
Uganda Society for Disabled Children |212,743 |163,400
UK Foundation for the peoples of the
South Pacific |79,360 |88,747
United Nations Association
International Service |611,904 |700,403
University College |- |35,532
Urban Aid |15,000 |15,000
Vetaid |75,053 |12,715
Village Services Trust |- |5,768
Voluntary Services Overseas |10,384,155|11,347,623
War on Want |56,179 |4,480
Water Aid |859,481 |591,846
Womanaid |- |26,453
Womankind |- |67,781
Workstart |- |6,586
World Conservation Monitoring
Centre |- |312,894
World University Service |535,636 |1,389,625
World Vision |298,399 |298,756
World Wide Fund for Nature |1,000,000 |1,200,000
Y Care International |144,729 |181,050
You and Me |21,000 |40,000
Young Womens Christian Association |7,127 |-
Zimbabwe Trust |31,350 |151,461
Humanitarian Aid
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the total, for the current financial year, of humanitarian aid for (a) Somalia and (b) the former Yugoslavia ; what has been the United Kingdom share for each of EC aid ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd [holding answer 10 November 1992] : To date, the total United Kingdom bilateral commitment for humanitarian aid for Somalia for the current financial year is £15.4 million, and for the former Yugoslavia about £29 million. Figures for EC aid are not available by financial year, but since the beginning of 1992 74 mecu (about £58 million) has been allocated for Somalia, of which the United Kingdom share is about 13 mecu (£10.2 million) ; and 276 mecu (about £217 million) has been allocated for the former Yugoslavia, the United Kingdom share of which is about 50 mecu (about £40 million).
Slovenia
Mr. Austin-Walker : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if Her Majesty's Government will make direct assistance available immediately to instal heating in refugee camps in former Yugoslav military barracks and prisons in Slovenia ; (2) what representations he has received from the Slovenian Foreign Office regarding assistance to refugees from Bosnia and Herzegovina currently in Slovenia ; and if he will make a statement ;
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(3) how much of the United Kingdom aid for humanitarian assistance in the former Yugoslavia has gone to assist refugees in Slovenia.Mr. Lennox-Boyd [holding answer 11 November 1992] :
Representatives of the Slovenian embassy have held discussions with ODA officials. We have committed more than £70 million for humanitarian assistance to the former Yugoslavia. This includes nearly £8 million to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and other UN agencies, who are assisting refugees throughout the former Yugoslavia, including Slovenia.
SCOTLAND
Workers Educational Association
Dr. Godman : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the current level of funding for the Workers Educational Association ; what is the projected funding for the organisation for the next financial year ; and if he will make a statement.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : My right hon. Friend has agreed to pay the Scottish Council of the Workers Educational Association a grant of £180,000 in 1992-93 towards expenditure on headquarters administration. No decisions have yet been taken on the level of grant to be offered in 1993-94 to voluntary organisations in the community education field.
Legal Aid
Mr. Gallie : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what measures he is proposing to take to restrain the rate of growth in legal aid expenditure in Scotland.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : Expenditure on legal aid in Scotland has almost doubled over the past five years. In line with the proposals for England and Wales recently announced by the Lord Chancellor, I propose to introduce the following measures in order to ensure that expenditure on legal aid in Scotland does not rise even faster.
As far as financial eligibility for civil legal aid is concerned, my objective is to strengthen the legally-aided clients' financial interest in the progress of the case and to bring the means assessment for legal aid more closely into line with that used for other means-tested benefits. I therefore intend to lay regulations to provide that, from 1 April 1993, the lower income limit for civil legal aid (that is, the limit of disposable income below which an applicant for legal aid pays no contribution) will be reduced to the equivalent income support limit. This means that, on current figures, the limit would be reduced from £3,060 per annum to £2,213 per annum. I propose to make equivalent changes to eligibility for advice and assistance.
The upper eligibility limits for civil legal aid (that is, the limits of disposable income above which an applicant for civil legal aid ceases to be eligible for assistance) will not be increased in April 1993.
I also intend to lay regulations providing that--
from 1 April 1993, dependants' allowances for civil legal aid will be reduced to income support levels ;
from 1 April 1993, all those granted civil legal aid will be required to pay a contribution of one third of their disposable income above the lower limit ; and
only those who would qualify for assistance free of contributions shall, from 1 April 1993, be able to receive advice under the advice and assistance scheme.
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I do not propose to alter at present the existing financial eligibility criteria for criminal legal aid.Students
Mrs. Ray Michie : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many undergraduate students received an award from the Scottish Education Department from session 1979 to date ; and if he will give the figures by (a) type of establishment, (b) region and (c) faculty.
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Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 12 November 1992] : The available information is set out in the table. Information on the home region of award holders is not collated centrally, nor is information on the faculty offering the award holder's course. Information on type of establishment is not available for 1979-80.
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Undergraduate awards 1979-80 to 1991-92
Academic session |University |Scottish college of|SOED Central |Scottish FE college|Other |Total
|education |institution
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1979-80 |n/a |n/a |n/a |n/a |n/a |50,079
1980-81 |30,767 |3,657 |8,295 |6,968 |2,027 |51,714
1981-82 |31,052 |3,589 |9,180 |7,887 |2,335 |54,043
1982-83 |30,507 |3,323 |9,837 |8,555 |2,390 |54,612
1983-84 |29,954 |3,093 |10,549 |9,583 |2,496 |55,675
1984-85 |29,437 |2,927 |10,704 |10,045 |2,456 |55,569
1985-86 |29,039 |2,910 |17,041 |4,005 |2,709 |55,704
1986-87 |28,813 |2,894 |16,910 |3,968 |2,643 |55,228
1987-88 |29,307 |3,099 |16,851 |4,128 |2,748 |56,133
1988-89 |30,537 |3,110 |17,772 |4,622 |2,739 |58,780
1989-90 |31,577 |3,552 |18,738 |5,118 |2,775 |61,760
1990-91 |32,994 |4,182 |20,830 |5,740 |2,726 |66,472
1991-92 |34,580 |4,577 |22,728 |9,785 |3,918 |75,588
Notes:
1. The above figures relate to the position in the April following the start of each session. They exclude students whose awards had not been processed by this
stage, and students who withdrew from their courses prior to this date.
2. Up to 1984-85 Napier polytechnic and Glasgow polytechnic were Scottish FE colleges. In 1985-86 they transferred to the SOED Central Institution sector.
3. Only the traditional universities are included in the column headed university.
4. The figures for FE colleges include full-time HNC students with effect from 1991-92.
Mrs. Ray Michie : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many postgraduate students received an award from the Scottish Education Department in each session since 1978-79 ; and if he will analyse the figures by sex and by region.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 9 November 1992] : The available information is set out in the table. No breakdown by sex is available prior to 1980-81. Information on the home region of award holders is not collated centrally.
Postgraduate Awards 1978-79 to 1991-92 Academic Session |Male |Female |Total ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1978-79 |n/a |n/a |3,085 1979-80 |n/a |n/a |3,521 1980-81 |1,444 |1,767 |3,211 1981-82 |1,338 |1,605 |2,943 1982-83 |1,328 |1,525 |2,853 1983-84 |1,303 |1,482 |2,785 1984-85 |1,253 |1,374 |2,627 1985-86 |1,343 |1,508 |2,851 1986-87 |1,399 |1,593 |2,992 1987-88 |1,387 |1,521 |2,908 1988-89 |1,335 |1,409 |2,744 1989-90 |1,310 |1,478 |2,788 1990-91 |1,322 |1,567 |2,889 1991-92 |1,626 |1,845 |3,471 Note: <1> The above figures relate to the position in the April following the start of each session. They exclude students whose awards had not been processed by this stage, and students who withdrew from their courses prior to this date.
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Scotland-Northern Ireland Power Cable
Dr. Godman : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions have taken place with the representatives of fishermen anent Scottish Power's proposals to lay an electric power cable between Scotland and Northern Ireland ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Allan Stewart [holding answer 13 November 1992] : The proposed undersea power cable between Scotland and Northern Ireland is the responsibility of Northern Ireland Electricity plc (NIE). My right hon. Friend understands that NIE has requested ScottishPower to assist it with consultations in Scotland about the undersea cable. These consultations have included a meeting between representatives of ScottishPower and the Clyde Fishermen's Association. Any formal application to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport in respect of the undersea cable will of course be a matter for NIE.
Local Enterprise Companies
Mr. Milburn : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will list for each local enterprise company the budget made available from his Department for 1991-92 and 1992-93 (a) at current prices and (b) at 1992-93 prices, indicating in both cases the percentage difference ;
(2) if he will list for each local enterprise company the budget made available from his Department for the provision of youth training places for 1991-92 and 1992-93 (a) at current prices and (b) at 1992-93 prices, indicating in both cases the percentage difference ;
(3) if he will list for each local enterprise company the budget made available from his Department for the
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provision of employment training places for 1991-92 and 1992-93 (a) at current prices and (b) at 1992-93 prices, indicating in both cases the percentage difference.Mr. Allan Stewart [holding answer 13 November 1992] : The Scottish Office does not make budget allocations to local enterprise companies. The allocation of resources to the companies is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise. I have asked the chairmen of these bodies to write to the hon. Member.
Insurance Claims
Dr. Godman : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many companies have been proceeded against and convicted for submitting fraudulent insurance claims for fire-damaged property or goods in each of the past three years ; and if he will make a statement.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 12 November 1992] : The information requested is not separately identifiable within the Scottish Office's classification of crimes and offences.
Lees Group
Mr. Macdonald : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much Highlands and Islands Development Board or Highlands and Islands Enterprise investment in the form of loans or grants was provided to the Lees group of companies in the 1980s.
Mr. Lang : I have asked the chairman of Highlands and Islands Enterprise to write to the hon. Member with the information he has requested.
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
European Coal and Steel Community Levy
Mr. Morgan : To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he will specify the proposed means by which revenue equivalent to the 0.3 per cent. European Coal and Steel Community turnover levy will be raised to provide for the expenditure of training ex-coal and steel workers, research and development and job creation ;
(2) if he will make a statement on his consultations with his opposite numbers in the European Community on the abolition of, or bringing forward of the date of abolition of, the European Coal and Steel Community levy ;
(3) what consultations he has had with his opposite numbers in the European Community concerning the use of the £500 million accumulated in the European Coal and Steel Community turnover levy ; and if he will make a statement ;
(4) what is his most up-to-date estimate of the date of cessation of levying of the European Coal and Steel Community levy.
Mr. Sainsbury : The last substantive discussions at ministerial level on the European Coal and Steel Community reserves were in April 1991. A further discussion is expected at the Industry Council on 24 November which should reflect the view of European industry that the levy should end and reserves be drawn down during the run-up to 2002.
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RECHAR
Ms. Walley : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps he has taken to ensure that a second phase of the RECHAR programme is maintained ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Sainsbury : The 11 United Kingdom RECHAR programmes do not have phases. They run from 1989 to 1993. Thereafter it would be more effective if structural funds assistance to eligible coal-mining areas was channelled through the general structural funds programmes covering the areas concerned.
Agencies
Mr. McAllion : To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will place in the Library a copy of the health and safety policy of each of the agencies within his Department.
Mr. Eggar : I will place a copy of the available agency health and safety policy statements in the Library. Those agencies which have not yet finalised their statements are covered by the Department's health and safety policy, a copy of which I have placed in the Library.
Plutonium
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list details of each consignment of plutonium 239 exported since 1979 ; and what assessment he has made of the effect of the new international atomic energy nuclear supplier guidelines on such transfers.
Mr. Eggar : Information is not available in the form requested. The strict conditions on the supply of fissile materials, including plutonium, under the Nuclear Suppliers Group guidelines have not changed.
Green Issues
Mr. Dafis : To ask the President of the Board of Trade who in his Department has been appointed to oversee and develop green issues ; how many civil servants have been allocated new or additional responsibilities to deal with the management and development of green issues ; and what additional allocation of resources has been made to support programmes related to green issues in his Department.
Mr. Eggar : The Department set up a new environment division in July this year dealing with green issues which reports at ministerial level through me to my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade. The division, which is headed by Dr. David Evans (G3), brings together staff previously in the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Energy dealing with environmental questions who currently number 65. The tasks of the division include ensuring that proper account of environmental issues is taken in the development of all Department of Trade and Industry's policies, stimulating an effective business response to environmental developments and ensuring that the Government's overall environmental policy takes proper account of the impact on business.
The division also calls on resources elsewhere in the Department of Trade and Industry for publicity and
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awareness activities, support for environmental technology and the carrying out of economic and other analytical studies to support the development of policy. The division's spend on these activities in 1992-93 is likely to be about £9 million. In addition, a number of other divisions whose focus is on other policy matters have staff devoted wholly or in part to environmental issues.Wind Energy
Mr. Dafis : To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many sites for wind farms are currently under consideration ; how many are under construction ; and how many wind turbines are already linked to the national grid.
Mr. Eggar : Of the wind farms which have received contracts under the non-fossil fuel obligation (NFFO), the following is my understanding of the situation :
1. Under consideration--16 sites
2. Under construction--13 sites
3. Already linked to the grid--five sites, including 56 wind turbines.
I am not aware of any wind farms outside the NFFO, although there probably are some in the first category, being given consideration in anticipation of future NFFO orders.
Mr. Dafis : To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make it his policy to encourage wind energy production in areas where the average wind speed is between 6.5 and 7.5 metres per second.
Mr. Eggar : I have no plans to constrain any future non-fossil fuel obligation orders for wind energy by either wind speed or geographic location. I believe potential developers must be free to exploit the best sites which are acceptable to the planning authorities.
Mr. Dafis : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is his Department's estimated target in megawatts for wind energy production in the United Kingdom in the year 2000.
Mr. Eggar : The Government are currently working towards a figure of 1,000 MW of new electricity generating capacity from renewables by the year 2000. I do not have a target for individual technologies, such as wind, within that figure.
Renewables
Mr. Dafis : To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make it his policy to set a target of 4000 MW of renewables to be in service in the United Kingdom by the year 2000.
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