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Mr. Maclean : My officials have recently confirmed formally with the Commission our agreement on the conduct of Commission verifications of monitoring facilities for radioactivity in the United Kingdom environment under article 35 of the Euratom treaty.
Fire Precautions
Mr. Denham : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the paper "Fires Involving Sprinklers" published by the Home Office in July 1990 ; and what account was taken of the conclusions of this paper in framing current building regulations covering fire precautions in very large low-rise buildings.
Mr. Baldry : Although the report was not available until after the technical review of the regulations was substantially complete, officials were in close contact with their Home Office and fire research station colleagues throughout the review. The report showed which type of sprinklers could be most beneficial in large shops of different configurations. Changes made to the building regulations which came into effect in June this year give greater recognition to the beneficial role of sprinklers.
Birkenhead to Seacombe Development Proposals
Mr. Parry : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what planning applications are currently before his Department for development of the land between Birkenhead and Seacombe ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Baldry : No planning application is currently before my Department in the area mentioned.
Toxic Waste
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the financing of the secretariat of the convention to control toxic waste.
Mr. Maclean : Non-parties to the Basel convention will be invited to make voluntary contributions to meet the costs of administration. In order to demonstrate its support for the convention, the United Kingdom has made voluntary contributions of $50,000 for each of the last three financial years. A similar amount will be paid in the first quarter of 1993.
Ozone Layer
Mr. Hardy : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his present estimate of the size of and coverage of the ozone layer ; and what estimates were made in 1990 and 1985.
Mr. Maclean : The ozone layer covers the entire globe but a progressive depletion in its thickness has been observed since the mid- 1980s, with strong evidence that this is due to man-made ozone-depleting chemicals. Assessments of depletion published in 1992 by the WMO/UNEP Scientific Assessment Panel indicated a total ozone loss rate of 8 per cent. per decade in the early spring over northern mid latitudes (30 60 N), a peak downward trend at high southern latitudes in October-December of greater than 35 per cent. per decade and an average global depletion of 3 per cent. per decade.
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Assessments by the International Ozone Trends Panel have been published by the World Meteorological Organisation in 1985, 1988, 1989 and 1992 and by the Department's stratospheric ozone review group in 1987, 1988, 1990 and 1991. Copies of these reports have been placed in the Library of the House.Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the results of the conference on the ozone layer in Copenhagen.
Mr. Maclean : I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave on 27 November 1992 to the hon. Member for Burnley (Mr. Pike), Official Report , column 85 .
Council House Sales, East Anglia
Mr. David Porter : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list by authorities the number and value of council house sales in East Anglia in each year since 1983 ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Baldry : Information on sales of council houses reported by local authorities in East Anglia in the period April 1983 to March 1992 is given in the table. The figures exclude dwellings transferred to housing associations in large scale voluntary transfers. Such transfers took place in Broadland in April 1990 and in Suffolk Coastal in May 1991. The transfers involved some 9,000 dwellings valued at about £50 million.
1991-92
Local authority |Number of sales |Undiscounted value
|of sales
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cambridgeshire
Cambridge |146 |7,966
East Cambridgeshire |60 |2,670
Fenland |37 |1,318
Huntingdonshire |121 |5,419
Peterborough |137 |4,482
South Cambridgeshire |148 |7,137
Norfolk
Breckland |93 |3,493
Broadland |0 |0
Great Yarmouth |49 |1,948
Kings Lynn and West Norfolk |70 |2,713
North Norfolk |51 |2,250
Norwich |204 |8,757
South Norfolk |55 |2,541
Suffolk
Babergh |107 |4,870
Forest Heath |71 |2,837
Ipswich |80 |3,521
Mid Suffolk |72 |2,909
St. Edmundsbury |98 |4,501
Suffolk Coastal |4 |n/a
Waveney |73 |2,810
1991-92
Local authority |Number of sales |Undiscounted value
|of sales
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cambridgeshire
Cambridge |146 |7,966
East Cambridgeshire |60 |2,670
Fenland |37 |1,318
Huntingdonshire |121 |5,419
Peterborough |137 |4,482
South Cambridgeshire |148 |7,137
Norfolk
Breckland |93 |3,493
Broadland |0 |0
Great Yarmouth |49 |1,948
Kings Lynn and West Norfolk |70 |2,713
North Norfolk |51 |2,250
Norwich |204 |8,757
South Norfolk |55 |2,541
Suffolk
Babergh |107 |4,870
Forest Heath |71 |2,837
Ipswich |80 |3,521
Mid Suffolk |72 |2,909
St. Edmundsbury |98 |4,501
Suffolk Coastal |4 |n/a
Waveney |73 |2,810
1991-92
Local authority |Number of sales |Undiscounted value
|of sales
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cambridgeshire
Cambridge |146 |7,966
East Cambridgeshire |60 |2,670
Fenland |37 |1,318
Huntingdonshire |121 |5,419
Peterborough |137 |4,482
South Cambridgeshire |148 |7,137
Norfolk
Breckland |93 |3,493
Broadland |0 |0
Great Yarmouth |49 |1,948
Kings Lynn and West Norfolk |70 |2,713
North Norfolk |51 |2,250
Norwich |204 |8,757
South Norfolk |55 |2,541
Suffolk
Babergh |107 |4,870
Forest Heath |71 |2,837
Ipswich |80 |3,521
Mid Suffolk |72 |2,909
St. Edmundsbury |98 |4,501
Suffolk Coastal |4 |n/a
Waveney |73 |2,810
1991-92
Local authority |Number of sales |Undiscounted value
|of sales
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cambridgeshire
Cambridge |146 |7,966
East Cambridgeshire |60 |2,670
Fenland |37 |1,318
Huntingdonshire |121 |5,419
Peterborough |137 |4,482
South Cambridgeshire |148 |7,137
Norfolk
Breckland |93 |3,493
Broadland |0 |0
Great Yarmouth |49 |1,948
Kings Lynn and West Norfolk |70 |2,713
North Norfolk |51 |2,250
Norwich |204 |8,757
South Norfolk |55 |2,541
Suffolk
Babergh |107 |4,870
Forest Heath |71 |2,837
Ipswich |80 |3,521
Mid Suffolk |72 |2,909
St. Edmundsbury |98 |4,501
Suffolk Coastal |4 |n/a
Waveney |73 |2,810
1991-92
Local authority |Number of sales |Undiscounted value
|of sales
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cambridgeshire
Cambridge |146 |7,966
East Cambridgeshire |60 |2,670
Fenland |37 |1,318
Huntingdonshire |121 |5,419
Peterborough |137 |4,482
South Cambridgeshire |148 |7,137
Norfolk
Breckland |93 |3,493
Broadland |0 |0
Great Yarmouth |49 |1,948
Kings Lynn and West Norfolk |70 |2,713
North Norfolk |51 |2,250
Norwich |204 |8,757
South Norfolk |55 |2,541
Suffolk
Babergh |107 |4,870
Forest Heath |71 |2,837
Ipswich |80 |3,521
Mid Suffolk |72 |2,909
St. Edmundsbury |98 |4,501
Suffolk Coastal |4 |n/a
Waveney |73 |2,810
1991-92
Local authority |Number of sales |Undiscounted value
|of sales
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cambridgeshire
Cambridge |146 |7,966
East Cambridgeshire |60 |2,670
Fenland |37 |1,318
Huntingdonshire |121 |5,419
Peterborough |137 |4,482
South Cambridgeshire |148 |7,137
Norfolk
Breckland |93 |3,493
Broadland |0 |0
Great Yarmouth |49 |1,948
Kings Lynn and West Norfolk |70 |2,713
North Norfolk |51 |2,250
Norwich |204 |8,757
South Norfolk |55 |2,541
Suffolk
Babergh |107 |4,870
Forest Heath |71 |2,837
Ipswich |80 |3,521
Mid Suffolk |72 |2,909
St. Edmundsbury |98 |4,501
Suffolk Coastal |4 |n/a
Waveney |73 |2,810
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1991-92
Local authority |Number of sales |Undiscounted value
|of sales
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cambridgeshire
Cambridge |146 |7,966
East Cambridgeshire |60 |2,670
Fenland |37 |1,318
Huntingdonshire |121 |5,419
Peterborough |137 |4,482
South Cambridgeshire |148 |7,137
Norfolk
Breckland |93 |3,493
Broadland |0 |0
Great Yarmouth |49 |1,948
Kings Lynn and West Norfolk |70 |2,713
North Norfolk |51 |2,250
Norwich |204 |8,757
South Norfolk |55 |2,541
Suffolk
Babergh |107 |4,870
Forest Heath |71 |2,837
Ipswich |80 |3,521
Mid Suffolk |72 |2,909
St. Edmundsbury |98 |4,501
Suffolk Coastal |4 |n/a
Waveney |73 |2,810
1991-92
Local authority |Number of sales |Undiscounted value
|of sales
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cambridgeshire
Cambridge |146 |7,966
East Cambridgeshire |60 |2,670
Fenland |37 |1,318
Huntingdonshire |121 |5,419
Peterborough |137 |4,482
South Cambridgeshire |148 |7,137
Norfolk
Breckland |93 |3,493
Broadland |0 |0
Great Yarmouth |49 |1,948
Kings Lynn and West Norfolk |70 |2,713
North Norfolk |51 |2,250
Norwich |204 |8,757
South Norfolk |55 |2,541
Suffolk
Babergh |107 |4,870
Forest Heath |71 |2,837
Ipswich |80 |3,521
Mid Suffolk |72 |2,909
St. Edmundsbury |98 |4,501
Suffolk Coastal |4 |n/a
Waveney |73 |2,810
1991-92
Local authority |Number of sales |Undiscounted value
|of sales
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cambridgeshire
Cambridge |146 |7,966
East Cambridgeshire |60 |2,670
Fenland |37 |1,318
Huntingdonshire |121 |5,419
Peterborough |137 |4,482
South Cambridgeshire |148 |7,137
Norfolk
Breckland |93 |3,493
Broadland |0 |0
Great Yarmouth |49 |1,948
Kings Lynn and West Norfolk |70 |2,713
North Norfolk |51 |2,250
Norwich |204 |8,757
South Norfolk |55 |2,541
Suffolk
Babergh |107 |4,870
Forest Heath |71 |2,837
Ipswich |80 |3,521
Mid Suffolk |72 |2,909
St. Edmundsbury |98 |4,501
Suffolk Coastal |4 |n/a
Waveney |73 |2,810
Homelessness
Mr. Dewar : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many (a) families and (b) single people were accepted by local authorities as homeless in each local authority area in the United Kingdom and each standard planning region in the United Kingdom in the latest year for which figures are available.
Mr. Baldry : Local authorities in England report the number of households they accept as homeless in their annual housing investment programme (HIP1) returns. Total acceptances cover households which include dependent children or a pregnant woman, single people, childless couples and other adult households but only the first of these groups is separately identified.
The available information for individual authorities for 1991-92 are in columns C11 (total acceptances) and C2b1 (those including children or a pregnant woman) of the "HIP1 All Items Print". Regional totals are in the "HIP1 Regional Grossing". Both documents are in the Library.
For information about Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland respectively.
Carbon Dioxide Emissions
Mr. Hendry : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to publish the discussion document on Britain's carbon dioxide programme promised in "This Common Inheritance : The Second Year" report.
Mr. Cran : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to publish a discussion paper on the strategy to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in the United Kingdom.
Mr. Howard : I am publishing today a discussion document : "Climate Change--Our National Programme for CO Emissions". Copies have been placed in the Library.
This is the first step in implementing in the United Kingdom the climate change convention agreed at UNCED in June this year. The convention has been signed by over 150 nations. As part of the process of ensuring that the convention is translated into effective action we in Britain must now begin drawing up our own programmes of measures to limit emissions of greenhouse gases. Carbon dioxide is the first priority.
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I do not believe it would be right for the Government alone to determine the content of our programme. The programme needs contributions from all sectors of the economy. The discussion document describes :the main principles of the Climate Change Convention, the sources of CO emissions in the United Kingdom and the prospects for emissions in the year 2000,
the opportunities for individuals, business, and public sector bodies to reduce CO emissions,
options for Government measures to supplement and support voluntary action.
Through the discussion document I am inviting business to commmit itself to taking action as part of our national programme, and I am seeking views on the scope for individuals to take further action and on the options for Government measures. I look forward to a full debate on these issues over the next three months.
Housing Action Trusts
Mrs. Roe : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made with the further housing action trust proposals announced in his statement of 16 December 1991, at columns 59-62.
Sir George Young : I am pleased to announce that I have decided, after careful consideration of tenants' views and of the detailed feasibility studies for the estates, that there should be ballots of tenants on the proposals to establish Housing Action Trusts for the Castle Vale estate in
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Birmingham, and for the Lefevre Walk, Tredegar Road and Monteith estates in the Bow neighbourhood of Tower Hamlets.I hope to announce ballot dates shortly. I shall do so as soon as I am satisfied that the consultations with tenants, which have been continuing for some time, have enabled them fully to explore and understand the implications for them of the establishment of HATs. Meanwhile I have decided to appoint Mr. Richard Temple-Cox and Dr. Michael Barraclough respectively as prospective HAT chairs for the trusts. They will carry forward the necessary consultation with tenants, and help prepare for the major tasks to be undertaken by the trusts, if established.
While I am encouraged by the progress on the proposal for a HAT for Stonebridge Park in Brent, I have decided that it would not be appropriate to make a decision at this stage. I hope to be able to do so shortly.
Housing Finance
Mr. Milburn : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will provide a table showing capital spending on housing by region for each year since 1981 (a) at current prices and (b) at 1981 prices.
Sir George Young [holding answer 30 November 1992] : The available data on regional gross capital expenditure on housing by local authorities, which relate to financial years, are given in the tables. Corresponding figures for 1981-82 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
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Local authority housing capital expenditure in real terms<1> by region, 1982-83 to 1991-92
Real term figures<1> £ million
|1982-83|1983-84|1984-85|1985-86|1986-87|1987-88|1988-89|1989-90|1990-91|1991-92
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
North (excluding Cumbria) |180 |172 |145 |115 |117 |126 |112 |118 |83 |81
Yorkshire and Humberside |262 |265 |209 |185 |170 |192 |195 |229 |159 |134
East Midlands |222 |223 |183 |142 |151 |146 |144 |185 |109 |97
Eastern |258 |274 |286 |244 |231 |237 |289 |363 |204 |175
Greater London |776 |799 |818 |616 |641 |646 |614 |954 |464 |343
South East |310 |355 |348 |280 |278 |312 |360 |420 |244 |172
South West |196 |219 |189 |153 |151 |155 |174 |261 |147 |121
West Midlands |275 |310 |261 |217 |210 |208 |209 |268 |184 |148
North West |414 |437 |368 |321 |293 |313 |294 |337 |227 |194
Unallocated<2> |69 |70 |109 |115 |66 |38 |44 |115 |37 |28
|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------
England |2,960 |3,124 |2,915 |2,386 |2,308 |2,372 |2,436 |3,250 |1,858 |1,494
<1> Cash figures have been converted to real terms (1981 prices) by excluding the effect of general inflation as
measured by the GDP market prices deflator.
<2> The regional figures do not sum to the overall England totals which include some expenditure (eg the housing
element of the Urban Programme, leasing) for which regional estimates are not available and because the England
totals have been reconciled with other sources of data.
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Local authority housing capital expenditure in real terms<1> by region, 1982-83 to 1991-92
Real term figures<1> £ million
|1982-83|1983-84|1984-85|1985-86|1986-87|1987-88|1988-89|1989-90|1990-91|1991-92
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
North (excluding Cumbria) |180 |172 |145 |115 |117 |126 |112 |118 |83 |81
Yorkshire and Humberside |262 |265 |209 |185 |170 |192 |195 |229 |159 |134
East Midlands |222 |223 |183 |142 |151 |146 |144 |185 |109 |97
Eastern |258 |274 |286 |244 |231 |237 |289 |363 |204 |175
Greater London |776 |799 |818 |616 |641 |646 |614 |954 |464 |343
South East |310 |355 |348 |280 |278 |312 |360 |420 |244 |172
South West |196 |219 |189 |153 |151 |155 |174 |261 |147 |121
West Midlands |275 |310 |261 |217 |210 |208 |209 |268 |184 |148
North West |414 |437 |368 |321 |293 |313 |294 |337 |227 |194
Unallocated<2> |69 |70 |109 |115 |66 |38 |44 |115 |37 |28
|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------
England |2,960 |3,124 |2,915 |2,386 |2,308 |2,372 |2,436 |3,250 |1,858 |1,494
<1> Cash figures have been converted to real terms (1981 prices) by excluding the effect of general inflation as
measured by the GDP market prices deflator.
<2> The regional figures do not sum to the overall England totals which include some expenditure (eg the housing
element of the Urban Programme, leasing) for which regional estimates are not available and because the England
totals have been reconciled with other sources of data.
Mr. Milburn : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will provide a table showing housing turnover by region in each year since 1987.
Mr. Baldry [holding answer 9 December 1992] : The available information is tabulated in table 14.2 of the MHSO publication Inland Revenue Statistics which is held in the Library. The years 1988-1991 are covered in the 1992 edition, and the year 1987 in the 1991 edition.
Wild Geese
Mr. Welsh : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what have been the numbers of wild geese exports to Italy for the period from 1 September 1991 to 31 January 1992, inclusive ; and if he will provide a breakdown by type of goose ;
(2) how many licences for the export of wild geese have been issued since 31 January 1991 ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Maclean [holding answer 11 December 1992] : According to our records, three licences to export wild geese have been issued since 31 January 1991. Only one of these licences was issued in the peirod from 1 September 1991 to 31 January 1992. This licence allowed the export of 177 dead Greylag geese (Anser anser) to Italy.
Zoos
Mr. Morley : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many zoos are currently licensed in the United Kingdom ; and what are their locations.
Mr. Maclean [holding answer 11 December 1992] : Zoo licences are issued by local authorities. The information they have supplied to my Department indicates that 219 zoos are currently licensed in England under the Zoo Licensing Act 1981. In addition, 54 premises have been granted dispensation from the provisions of the Act because of their size. The corresponding information for zoos in Scotland and Wales is held by the Scottish Office and the Welsh Ofice respectively. I have placed a list of zoos, together with a list of those premises which have been granted dispensation, in the Library of the House.
Mr. Morley : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many United Kingdom zoos do not currently meet the terms of the proposed EC zoo directive ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Maclean [holding answer 11 December 1992] : The proposed directive would require member states to introduce measures to license all zoos. it is difficult to be precise about its effect on individual zoos since it does not contain detailed standards. We would expect most zoos in Great Britain to meet its terms since they already comply with the strict standards set under the Zoo Licensing Act 1981.
Mr. Morley : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce a bonding scheme to all zoos to ensure the proper relocation of zoo animals should British zoos be forced to close.
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Mr. Maclean [holding answer 11 December 1992] : I have no plans to do so.
Ostrich Farms
Mr. Morley : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many applications have been made under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 to set up ostrich farms ; and if he will list their location.
Mr. Maclean [holding answer 11 December 1992] : This information is not held centrally, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Diesel Engine Trains
Mr. Jon Owen Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidelines British Rail is required to follow, as regards limiting levels of pollution produced by diesel-engine trains.
Mr. Freeman : I have been asked to reply.
British Rail is required to meet the provisions of the Clean Air Act 1956, the Environmental Protection Act 1990, the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1988.
Radioactive Waste
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion of the low-level radioactive waste stockpiled at the Drigg disposal site originates from the reprocessing of imported foreign nuclear fuel.
Mr. Eggar : I have been asked to reply.
I understand from British Nuclear Fuels plc that, at the end of March 1992, some 5 per cent. by volume of the low-level radioactive waste disposed of at Drigg had arisen from the reprocessing of spent fuel from overseas.
NATIONAL FINANCE
Bank Notes
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Bank of England will continue to have the authority to authorise the issue of bank notes by domestic clearing banks in Scotland under the provisions of the Maastricht treaty.
Mr. Nelson : The Scottish note-issuing banks currently have statutory authority to issue their own bank notes, subject to certain requirements to hold Bank of England notes. Scottish notes are not formally legal tender but they may nevertheless be used in ordinary transactions.
Under article 105a of the Maastricht treaty, the European central bank--ECB --would have the exclusive right to authorise the issue of bank notes in member states participating in stage 3 of economic and monetary union--EMU. Article 16 of the protocol on the statute of the ECB, requires the ECB to respect as far as possible existing practices regarding the issue and design of banknotes. If the United Kingdom were to participate in stage 3 of EMU these articles would permit the ECB to authorise the
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Scottish banks to continue to issue their own notes. In stage 2 of EMU, and in stage 3 were the United Kingdom not to participate, the United Kingdom could continue to maintain its existing arrangements.Racehorse Training
Mr. Robert Banks : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the latest number of reported closures of racehorse training establishments since 1989 ; and what analysis he has made of the effects of lower rates of VAT in other EC countries, on the competitiveness of the United Kingdom racehorse training industry.
Sir John Cope : There is no information available on how many racehorse training yards have closed since 1989. The present difference in the VAT rates for training fees between EC member states has existed for many years and will not be affected by the introduction of the single market. Racehorse owners choose to put their horses for training to particular trainers for many reasons. The United Kingdom continues to retain a large number of highly respected and successful trainers.
Premium Bonds
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what reviews he is currently carrying out in respect of the privatisation of the premium bond scheme ; and if he will make a statement.
Tobacco
Mr. Harry Greenway : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his forecast revenue from tobacco taxes in 1992-93 ; and what the comparable figure was for 1986.
Sir John Cope : Revenue from tobacco excise duties is forecast to be £6,044 million in 1992-93. This figure is consistent with the Chancellor's recent autumn statement. Revenue from tobacco excise duties in 1986 was £4,640 million.
Mr. Harry Greenway : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much the total tax levied on the United Kingdom's most popular price category cigarette brands has changed since May 1979.
Sir John Cope : In May 1979 a package of 20 king size cigarettes typically sold for 55p and the total tax was 39p. The corresponding price in 1992 is 221p per packet and the total tax is 168p. Over this period the tax percentage of the retail price has increased from 70 to 76 per cent.
European Banking System
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what dicussions he has had with his European Council counterparts on the conditions set out at article 34.2 of the protocol on the statute of the European system of central banks and the European central bank in the draft treaty on European union, during the United Kingdom presidency of the European Council.
Mr. Nelson : Article 34.2 of the protocol on the statute of the European system of central banks and the European central bank contains nothing requiring a Council discussion. No discussion of this article has taken place in the Finance Ministers' Council.
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Mortgage Tax Relief
Mr. Dewar : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the current annual cost to the Exchequer of tax relief on mortgages ; and what would be the cost to the Exchequer if tax relief on mortgages were limited to the 20 per cent. band.
Mr. Dorrell : The cost of mortgage interest tax relief in 1992-93 is provisionally estimated to be £5.2 billion based on the conventional assumption of no further changes in interest rates. If relief for existing amounts of allowable interest were restricted to a rate of 20 per cent., the cost would be about £4.2 billion, a reduction of £1 billion.
Custom House, Dundee
Mr. McAllion : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total cost of the refurbishment recently carried out to that part of the Custom House building in Dundee occupied by Customs and Excise staff ; which Government Department paid for the refurbishment ; and how long the refurbishment programme took from start to finish.
Sir John Cope : The total cost of restoration work to Dundee Custom House was some £1.4 million including fees and VAT. The scheme was initiated by the Property Services Agency which spent £0.4 million up to March 1990. Changes in the arrangements for managing Government property projects were introduced in April 1990. The remaining costs were shared between Customs and Excise--£0.5 million--and the Department of the Environment's directorate of property holdings--£0.5 million--although PSA continued to run the project as an agent. Following preliminary planning and consultation with the historic buildings and monument division of the Scottish Office, work started on site in October 1988 and took three and a half years.
Mr. McAllion : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which Government Department fixed the selling price of the refurbished part of Custom House in Dundee ; what that selling price is ; and which Government Departments will have to incur any financial loss resulting from sale at a price below the cost of the recent refurbishment.
Sir John Cope : Dundee Custom House is currently for sale, together with the adjoining property owned by the port authority. In accordance with normal practice, the selling price has not been fixed. Offers will be invited by a closing date once a reasonable level of interest has been generated. The selling price will depend on market interest and potential alternative uses.
Disposal is the responsibility of the Department of the Environment's directorate of property holdings. Together with the port authority, they have instructed James Barr and Son as selling agents.
Work to restore the stonework was necessary to make the building safe and, as a matter of Government stewardship of historic, buildings, to preserve its fabric. The effects of the work on the prospects of sale were a secondary consideration. It was never intended to recoup the cost of accumulated maintenance
responsibilities through sale proceeds.
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Pensions
Mr. Peter Ainsworth : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures the Government propose to take in respect of the pensions of those who retire during the period covered by the staging of the 1992 Top Salaries Review Body pay award.
Mr. Portillo : Earlier this year the Top Salaries Review Body recommended new salaries for judges, senior officers of the armed forces, and members of the higher civil service. The Government, taking into account wider implications, including the level of pay settlements in the private sector, decided to moderate the proposed increases and stage them over three years, bringing the total increase down to about half of the recommended level.
The pensions of those who retire normally during the period covered by the staging of the award will be based on the salary payable at or in the period before the date of retirement, in line with the policy applied for public service pensions since the announcement made by the then Prime Minister following the staging of the 1983-84 award. Those who are retired early in the public interest during the staging period are in a different position from those who retire at the normal end of their career, since they could reasonably have expected to work until the deferred elements of the award had been fully or partially implemented. Arrangements are therefore being made so that senior military officers and civil servants who retired early in the public interest during the period over which the award will be staged need not suffer any pensions loss as a result of the staging.
Company Headquarters
Mr. Milburn : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was (a) the number and percentage of the United Kingdom total and (b) the market value and percentage of the United Kingdom total of quoted companies with headquarters in each region in (i) 1979, (ii) 1983, (iii) 1987, (iv) 1991 and (v) currently.
Mr. Nelson [holding answer 10 December 1992] : This information is not available centrally, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
World Bank and IMF
Mr. Worthington : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he has to make the World bank and International Monetary Fund more conscious of the need to promote sustainable development.
Mr. Nelson [holding answer 11 December 1992] : The IMF helps countries to lay foundations for sustainable development through its work in support of stabilisation measures and medium-term structural reform. The World bank pays full regard to the need for sustainable development, in particular with regard to the impact their programmes have on the environment and the poorest members of society. The current measures taken by the two institutions to achieve objectives in connection with sustainable development are described in detail in the 1992 annual reports, copies of which are available in the Library of the House.
Mr. Worthington : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the achievement
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of the structural adjustment programmes applied to countries by the World bank and the International Monetary Fund.Mr. Nelson [holding answer 11 December 1992] : The Government welcome the support given by the IMF and the World bank to countries pursuing adjustment programmes and the recent evidence of the improved economic performance that results from these programmes. The IMF's and World bank's 1992 annual reports, copies of which are available in the Library of the House, describe both the recent evidence and the institutions' policies.
Mr. Worthington : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans exist for the EC nations having a shared policy at the World bank and the International Monetary Fund.
Mr. Nelson [holding answer 11 December 1992] : European Community member states are all individual members of the IMF and the World bank and instruct their representatives accordingly. There are no plans to change this practice. Furthermore, while the United Kingdom is in a single member constituency at the executive board, most EC member states are in constituencies with a wide range of non-EC countries.
Mr. Worthington : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what new proposals he has to take to the World bank and the International Monetary Fund to lower the debt burden of developing countries.
Mr. Nelson [holding answer 11 December 1992] : The Government continue to encourage the IMF and World bank to support commercial debt and debt service reduction deals. As noted by the IMF-World bank development committee on 21 September, 12 countries, which account for more than 90 per cent. of the commercial bank debt of the major debtor nations, have now reached agreement on such arrangements. Furthermore, as a direct result of the Prime Minister's initiative to relieve the official debts of the poorest and most indebted countries, the Paris club of creditor Governments began implementing Trinidad terms last December. These provide for a reduction of up to 50 per cent. of certain official bilateral payments, and give a commitment on the part of creditors to address the question of the country's stock of debt after a period of three to four years of proven financial and economic responsibility. So far, 12 countries have benefited, and I am sure that many more will follow. The United Kingdom will continue to press our creditor colleagues to agree improvements in the terms on offer.
AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD
Lime
Mr. Llwyd : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will reintroduce grant aid for the application of lime to agricultural land to encourage agricultural output and reduce acid rain leaching.
Mr. Curry : Grant is payable under an improvement plan in the farm and conservation grant scheme for the application of lime as part of a programme of grassland improvement and, in the less favoured areas only, when
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lime is applied as a separate operation without reseeding or other chemical treatment of the grass. Grant is not payable on work to convert heath or moorland to grass. I do not intend to extend these grants to subsidise the application of lime to arable land which would risk encouraging the further output of crops already in surplus.
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