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Written Answers to Questions
Thursday 3 December 1992
ATTORNEY-GENERAL
Guildford and Woolwich Bombings
Mr. Mullin : To ask the Attorney-General what public interest immunity certificates he has signed in relation to documents provided by his Department for Sir John May's inquiry.
Mr. Mullin : To ask the Attorney-General what documents the Law Officers have supplied to Sir John May's inquiry into the Guildford Four convictions ; and on what terms.
The Attorney-General : The Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers provided Sir John May with complete copies of the files relating to the prosecution of the Guildford Four and the Maguires. In addition, his inquiry was provided with a number of files relating to other cases arising at about the same time as the matters under consideration by Sir John May where decisions were taken whether to authorise proceedings under the Explosive Substances Act 1883. These documents were supplied to Sir John on a confidential basis and with an understanding that he would discuss with us any question of their further use which might arise in the course of his inquiry.
TRANSPORT
West Coast Main Line
Dame Elaine Kellett-Bowman : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has for recognising wider social benefits and making provision for through ticketing when financing new rail infrastructure, with particular regard to the west coast main line.
Mr. Freeman : Under our privatisation proposals, ownership of the railway infrastructure will pass to Railtrack, a public sector track authority. Investment in infrastructure will largely be financed from charges to operators but, as stated in the White Paper "New Opportunities for the Railways", the Government may provide direct support for investment schemes not earning an adequate financial return but which have satisfactory cost-benefit returns when wider social and economic benefits are taken into account. No proposals for major investment in the west coast main line have been submitted to the Secretary of State. We have given a clear commitment in the White Paper to preserve through ticketing arrangements across the network.
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M25 (Junctions 12 and 15)
Mr. Wilshire : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many letters his Department has received commenting on his proposals to enlarge the M25 between junctions 12 and 15 ; and how many of these supported the proposals.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : In total, 2,691 letters, some copied to other Ministers, and 7,405 pre-printed postcards have been received specifically commenting on the link road proposals between junctions 12 and 15 of the M25. A number of other letters have also been received raising wider M25 issues. Eight letters in support of the link road proposals have been received.
Mr. Wilshire : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the alternative routes considered when he was preparing his proposals to enlarge the M25 between junctions 12 and 15.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : I am arranging for the list to be placed in the House Libraries.
Mr. Wilshire : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish a list of those organisations that have submitted comments on his proposals to enlarge the M25 between junctions 12 and 15.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : A range of possible measures to improve the M25 was outlined in a report by consultants, Rendel, Palmer and Tritton, published in July 1989. This was followed by the M25 action plan published in December 1990 which announced plans to deal with congestion on the M25 and to improve the operation of the motorway. More recently, a review report and a technical appraisal report outlining alternative options for providing additional capacity between junctions 12 and 15 of the M25 were placed in the Library.
Chris Green
Mr. Mackinlay : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport in what capacity he has invited Chris Green, head of InterCity, to attend the meeting of potential rail operators scheduled for 9 December.
Mr. Freeman : The meeting on 9 December will discuss the procurement of rolling stock following privatisation, particularly through leasing. Those attending are therefore mainly representatives of financial institutions, together with a number of potential franchisees.
British Rail will be represented by the board member for finance, Mr. James Jerram. Mr. Chris Green is not attending.
Rail Freight
Mr. Mackinlay : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information his Department has about the extent, and the reasons for, the decline in freight on British Rail (a) in the two years preceeding 14 July and (b) since 14 July.
Mr. Freeman : Total tonnage carried by rail fell from 143.1 million tonnes in 1989-90 to 135.8 million tonnes in 1991-92. Factors affecting changes in rail freight are discussed at pages 18 to 20 of the 1991-92 annual report and accounts of the British Railways Board, which is responsible for rail freight in Great Britain.
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Mr. Mackinlay : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he last met representatives of the rail freight group ; and what discussions they had on the switch of freight moved by British Rail to road transport.
Mr. Freeman : I last met the rail users group on 19 May 1992. During the discussion we exchanged views on how rail freight could best compete with other modes.
Mr. Mackinlay : To ask the Secretary of state for Transport if it remains his policy to encourage a switch of freight from road to rail ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Freeman : It remains Government policy to encourage a switch of freight from road to rail where this makes commercial sense.
InterCity (Franchising Bids)
Mr. Mackinlay : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will consider the propriety of serving managers of InterCity, and other senior British Rail executives, being allowed to work with, and facilitate prospective franchises in the negotiation and preparation of franchising bids for InterCity which would involve them as shareholders if successful.
Mr. Freeman : We wish to encourage bids for franchises from the management and employees of BR. The BR Board has issued appropriate guidance to its managers so that potential conflicts of interst can be identified. It will be a concern of the franchising authority to ensure equality of information and treatment for all prospective bidders at each stage of the tendering process for each franchise.
British Rail Executives
Mr. Mackinlay : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether British Rail executives may be considered for the advertised posts of rail regulator and head of franchising ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Freeman : We placed no restrictions on the field of application for candidates wishing to be considered for the posts of railway regulator or passenger railway franchising authority. British Rail employees, like any others, were free to apply. The public advertisement for the posts said that railway or public transport experience would be an advantage, though not essential ; and it was one of several criteria on which we have been considering candidates.
Advanced Channel Express Ltd.
Ms. Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will set out the operational conditions, in respect of catamarans operated by Advanced Channel Express Ltd, which his surveyor has identified as not currently meeting specified standards ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Norris : The operational conditions for all high-speed craft are set out in a permit to operate, issued in accordance with a safety code developed by the International Maritime Organisation. The owners of the catamaran are aware of this, having been advised that the Department will have to be satisfied that the craft is suitable for the intended service.
Catamaran Safety
Ms. Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will review all aspects of catamaran safety ; and if he will make a statement.
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Mr. Norris : The United Kingdom has requested a formal review of the International Maritime Organisation safety code for high-speed craft. The United Kingdom is at the forefront of that review which will include all aspects of catamaran safety and is expected to be completed next year.
HGV Operators' Licences
Mr. Clifton-Brown : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has to change the regulations that prevent a regional centre processing applications for heavy goods vehicle operators' licences from accepting objections from neighbouring regions.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : There is nothing to prevent an owner or occupier making representations against the proposed use of a goods vehicle operating centre which is the subject of an application before a licensing authority, in circumstances where the operating centre and the owner or occupier's property are in different traffic areas. The only criteria are that the representor's property must be shown to be adversely affected and that it falls within what the licensing authority determines to be the vicinity of the operating centre in question.
Traffic Congestion
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimates he has made of the cost per annum of traffic congestion to (a) the Exchequer, (b) businesses and (c) the average household ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : Congestion is costly, but the cost can be measured usefully only against realistic alternatives such as more or less road building or policies for reducing or redirecting traffic. There is therefore no single figure which can be quoted. Much of the Department's roads and traffic expenditure and policies are, however, concerned with reducing congestion and making the best possible use of available road space.
Bus Companies (Future)
Mr. Alfred Morris : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will be meeting the chairman of the Greater Manchester passenger transport authority to discuss the authority's reaction to his announcement on 23 November about the future of local authority-owned bus companies ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Freeman : I have written to the chairman of the Greater Manchester passenger transport authority on behalf of my right hon. Friend agreeing to meet him to discuss the division of Greater Manchester Buses.
ENVIRONMENT
Agencies
Mr. McAllion : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will place in the Library a copy of the health and safety policy of each of the agencies within his Department.
Mr. Howard : The Building Research Establishment, the planning inspectorate and the Queen Elizabeth
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conference centre all come under my Department's health and safety policy statement and I have placed a copy of the document in the Library.I have asked Professor David Rhind to place in the Library a copy of his health and safety policy for the Ordnance Survey, and Mr. Roger Powell for the Buying Agency.
Municipal Waste
Mr. Austin-Walker : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he will give of the relative average net costs per tonne of disposal of municipal waste based upon projects handling 250,000 tonnes per year comparing landfill via road at a distance of 100 km and waste-to-energy incineration based on a rate of interest of 20 per cent. over 20 years showing the costs per tonne for incineration both with and without non-fossil fuel obligation subsidy.
Mr. Maclean : The wide range of factors involved and the price variations that exist across the country make it very difficult to give general estimates for the cost of waste disposal. Recent work carried out for the Department suggests that the current disposal costs for waste destined for disposal to landfill vary from between £7.50 to £22.50 per tonne. These costs are likely to increase substantially over the next few years as the Government's improved waste management arrangements are brought into effect. Waste to energy incineration costs are thought to be about £20 to £25 per tonne at present. Without the non-fossil fuel obligation, these are thought likely to be nearer £30 to £35 per tonne. These prices are not expected to change significantly over the next few years.
Timber
Mr. Chris Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in meeting the requirements of CITES, he intends to make changes to the system of monitoring timber imported into the United Kingdom.
Mr. Maclean : We have already made the changes necessary to meet the latest CITES requirements.
Mr. Chris Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what labelling of timber species listed in the appendices of CITES is required prior to entry into the United Kingdom.
Mr. Maclean : CITES-listed timber imported into the United Kingdom is not required to be labelled. It must, however, be accompanied by appropriate export and import permits identifying the species in each consignment. The Government are currently supporting schemes to develop effective labelling systems in producer countries.
Water
Mr. Pawsey : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he next plans to meet the chairmen of the regional water companies ; and what matters will be discussed.
Mr. Maclean : Ministers have had a number of meetings in recent months with the chairman of British Waterways at which, among other things, matters of strategic policy and board appointments have been discussed. But the Secretary of State has at present no plans to meet him.
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Research
Mrs. Roche : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much funding was made available by Her Majesty's Government to fund research outside Government Departments on international environmental policy issues in the financial year 1991-92 ; and what expenditure is proposed for 1992-93.
Mr. Maclean : This information is not readily available in the form requested and could be assembled only at disproportionate cost. However, the Cabinet Office annual review of Government-funded research and development gives a useful overview of the substantial research efforts devoted to diverse and important international policy issues across Government. In addition, considerable proportions of United Kingdom subscriptions to international bodies are devoted to relevant research.
Clean Air Grant
Mr. Chris Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the clean air grant will continue to be available to local authorities in England and Wales after 1 April 1993 ; what economic instruments will be made available to local authorities wishing to improve local air quality ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Maclean : The future of the clean air grant is under review, but the grant will certainly continue to be available to local authorities in 1993-94. Supplementary credit approval will also be available to local authorities in 1993-94 to assist the financing of their capital expenditure on smoke control which is not covered by clean air grant.
Sulphur Dioxide
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment in which month he expects the United Kingdom to meet the large combustion plant directive target of a 20 per cent. reduction in sulphur dioxide emissions ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Maclean : The directive requires the United Kingdom's total emissions of sulphur dioxide from our existing large combustion plants in 1993 to be at least 20 per cent. below those in 1980. Emissions from such plant in 1991, the latest available year, were 71 per cent. of the 1980 figure.
Urban Programme (Rochdale)
Ms. Lynne : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many urban programme proposals in the Rochdale metropolitan borough council were funded in 1992-93 ; and how many are likely to be funded in 1993-94.
Mr. Robin Squire : In 1992-93, 102 proposals received urban programme funding. In 1993-94, it is likely that 34 proposals will receive funding.
Toxic Waste
Mr. Miller : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Ribble Valley (Mr. Evans) of 27 October, Official Report, column 543 what steps he intends to take to implement the EC regulations agreed on the supervision and control of shipments of toxic waste ; and when he will publish the regulations ;
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(2) pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Ribble Valley (Mr. Evans) of 27 October, Official Report, column 543, on control of shipments of toxic waste in the European Community, if he will make it his policy in implementing the proposals to ensure that toxic waste is disposed of as close as possible to its source within the United Kingdom and that no waste is imported for commercial gain.Mr. Maclean : The regulation will be published in the Official Journal after adoption by the Council and is likely to apply 15 months after publication. We shall be giving careful consideration to the application of the regulation's provisions in relation to imports for final disposal. We expect no change as result of the regulation to existing practice within the United Kingdom.
Waste Incinerators
Mr. Austin-Walker : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what criteria he will adopt regarding stack emissions for waste incinerators approved by him ;
(2) what level of emission of dioxins, furans and polychlorinated biphenyls he regards as (a) safe and (b) acceptable from waste incinerators ;
(3) what criteria he will adopt regarding stack emissions for waste-to- energy incinerators approved by him ;
(4) what level of emission of dioxins, furans and polychlorinated biphenyls he regards as (a) safe and (b) acceptable from waste-to-energy incinerators.
Mr. Maclean : Prime responsibility for the control of stack emissions from incinerators rests with the appropriate enforcing authority under part I of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 ; either Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution or the relevant district or borough council. Several guidance notes have been published by the Secretary of State and by the chief inspector, Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution concerning emission control standards for incinerators.
In granting authorisations, the regulating body will have regard to the advice contained in the relevant
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guidance note. These notes provide guidance on the techniques considered to be appropriate to meet the requirement to use the best available techniques not entailing excessive cost to either prevent the release of prescribed substances or, where that is not practicable, to minimise such releases and to render them harmless. They also provide guidance on the levels of releases achievable using these techniques. For dioxins these are set as release limits which accord with the best international safety standards. To facilitate the complete destruction of a wide range of toxic substances, including PCBs, the requirement is to ensure that the gases resulting from the combustion of the waste are raised to a sufficiently high temperature for a minimum time period.Copies of all guidance notes have been placed in the House Library.
Housing Conditions Survey
Mrs. Golding : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the last survey of housing conditions was made ; and if he will publish the result of the survey.
Mr. Baldry : The latest national survey of housing conditions was begun in September 1991 and completed in October this year. Results from the survey will be published next year.
Standard Spending Assessments (London)
Mr. Peter Bottomley : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the highest, lowest and next lowest standard spending assessment elements for inner London boroughs for (a) other services, (b) child social services and (c) education expressed for each relevant person.
Mr. Robin Squire : The information requested, in respect of the provisional standard spending assessments, is shown in the table below. The education SSA has been expressed in £s per head since this SSA covers services provided across the full age range.
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|c|Table showing provisional 1993-94 SSAs by selected inner London boroughs (excludes the City of
London)|c|
Service |Relative Position |Authority |SSA per head or per
|child
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All Other Services |Highest SSA |Westminster |£562 per head
|Lowest SSA |Greenwich |£191 per head
|Next Lowest SSA |Lewisham |£233 per head
Child Social Services |Highest SSA |Lambeth |£860 per child
|Lowest SSA |Greenwich |£311 per child
|Next Lowest SSA |Lewisham |£461 per child
Education Services |Highest SSA |Tower Hamlets |£700 per head
|Lowest SSA |Kensington |£236 per head
|Next Lowest SSA |Westminster |£275 per head
Mr. Peter Bottomley : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment in which inner-London boroughs standard spending assessments are below £950 a head ; and which are above.
Mr. Robin Squire : Within the provisional standard spending assessments for 1993-94 announced on 26 November, the SSA per head for Greenwich is £923. That for all other inner London boroughs is above £950 per head.
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Mr. Peter Bottomley : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what standard spending assessments would be allocated to Greenwich if it was the same for each person as the assessment for (a) Wandsworth and (b) Lewisham.
Mr. Robin Squire : Combining the SSA per head for Wandsworth and for Lewisham with the latest resident population figure for Greenwich would produce SSA totals of £205 million and £206 million respectively. SSAs are intended to reflect the social characteristics of the area
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concerned. Greenwich's SSA is different from that of Wandsworth and Lewisham because, inter alia, its social characteristics are different.Mr. Bottomley : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has made of the effects on the standard spending assessments for Greenwich of (a) population change and (b) the factors II (i) to (vi) in his Department's letter of 26 November to local authorities on local government finance (England).
Mr. Robin Squire : No such estimates have been made.
Mr. Peter Bottomley : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the significant factors other than population affecting standard spending assessments and what effect each contributed to the difference between the standard spending assessments of Greenwich and Wandsworth.
Mr. Robin Squire : All the factors on which standard spending assessments are based are listed in the draft Local Government Finance Report (England) 1993-94 which is in the Library. These are very similar to those used for 1992-93. The SSA Handbook for 1992-93, which is in the Library, shows the contribution of the main indicators to each authority's SSA in £ per adult. Similar calculations have not been carried out for provisional 1993-94 SSAs.
Air Pollution
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will state for each air pollutant monitored by his Department at what levels the Department classifies the pollution as good, average and below average ; if he will list the guidelines or standards advised by the World Health Organisation in each case ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Maclean : For the purposes of the air quality bulletins issued by the Department to the media for public consumption, the quality of air, based on measured concentrations of ozone, nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide, is divided into four categories : very good, good, poor and very poor. The bandings are as follows :
|c|Department of Environment guidelines (parts per
billion/1 hour)|c|
|Very good|Good |Poor |Very poor
------------------------------------------------------------
OZONE |< 50 |50-89 |90-179 |>= 180
NO2 |< 50 |50-99 |100-299 |>= 300
SO2 |< 60 |60-124 |125-399 |>= 400
|c|World Health Organisation guidelines
(parts per billion)|c|
|1 hour |8 hour |24 hour
----------------------------------------
OZONE |76-100 |50-60 |33
NO2 |210 |- |80
SO2 |122 |- |35
Environmental Health Regulations
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the environmental health regulations he is considering for modification or abolition ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Maclean : My Department is currently reviewing the Environmental Protection (Prescribed Processes and
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Substances) Regulations 1991, which prescribe the processes to be controlled by local authorities under part I of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.We have received representations about the enforcement of legislation concerning houses in multiple occupation and common lodging houses and these are being considered.
Following a review of the house renovation grant system for private sector properties a number of changes have been proposed. These include amendments to :--
-- the Housing Renovation etc. Grants (Reduction of Grant) Regulations 1990 ;
-- the Housing Renovation etc. Grants (Prescribed Forms and Particulars) Regulations 1990 ;
-- assistance for Minor Works to Dwellings Regulations 1990.
Planning Applications
Mr. Clifton-Brown : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of whether local authorities considering planning applications that will have a direct effect on a neighbouring authority pay sufficient care and attention to the needs, costs and infrastructure of that neighbouring authority.
Mr. Baldry : Planning authorities are required to keep under review all matters that are expected to affect the planning of development in their area, and to take account, in consultation with the authorities concerned, of the effects for their areas of similar matters in neighbouring areas. In preparing development plans, all local planning authorities are required to consult the planning authorities for areas adjacent to the area covered by their plan proposals, and to take into account any representations made. We advise them to consult other authorities likely to be affected. Planning applications must be decided in accordance with the development plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise. A local planning authority is required by article 18 of the Town and Country Planning General Development Order 1988 to consult the neighbouring planning authority about any application which affects land in its area.
Darwin Initiative
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his oral answer of 11 November, Official Report, column 862, if he will make a further statement on the Darwin initiative in the light of the autumn statement.
Mr. Maclean : Subject to parliamentary approval, funding for projects which meet the objectives of the Darwin initiative will be £1 million for 1993-94, £2 million for 1994-95 and £3 million for 1995-96. We will be consulting widely on the priorities and programmes for the initiative. I am establishing a small advisory committee to consider the responses to that consultation. I am pleased to say that Sir Crispin Tuckell has agreed to chair it.
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