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Mr. B. J. VernonEnglish Advisory Committee on Telecommunications
Chairman
Mr. H. R. Hutton
Members
Ms. A. Ballard
Mrs. D. C. Banks OBE
Professor M. D. I. Chisholm
Mr. S. J. Cooper
Mrs. J. H. Fergus MBE
Mr. J. D. Green
Mr. D. O. Michel OBE
Mr. D. R. Oram
Mr. A. C. Squires
Welsh Advisory Committee on Telecommunications
Chairman
Professor M. D. Tedd
Secretary
Mr. G. MacKenzie
Members
Mr. J. Bannon
Mrs. P. Blackwell
Mr. D. R. Dutton
Mr. G. S. Hall
Mr. D. T. Jones
Mr. J. C. Maynard
Mr. L. Murphy
Professor J. J. O'Reilly
Miss G. M. Williams
Scottish Advisory Committee on Telecommunications
Chairman
Mr. W. K. Begg, OBE
Secretary
Mr. R. L. L. King
Members
Mrs. J. M. Dickson
Lady Forbes
Mr. D. A. Gardner
Mrs. C. J. Jones
Mr. P. Michie
Mr. J. Purvis, CBE
Mrs. K. Scott
Mr. J. G. Watson, MBE
Professor H. Williams
Mr. P. Wilson
Mr. E. Young
Northern Ireland Advisory Committee on Telecommunications Chairman
Mr. J. L. C. Thompson
Secretary
Mr. R. T. Jordan, MBE
Members
Mr. F. C. Barter
Mr. W. Carruthers, OBE
Mrs. M. Jefferson, MBE
Mr. J. A. Kerr
Mrs. O. M. Marshall
Mr. J. O. McDonald, MBE
Mr. W. J. H. McPherson
Mr. G. E. Mills
Mrs. M. Noble
Mr. J. D. Thompson
Military Plants (Conversion)
Mr. Flynn : To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he expects to provide a substantive answer to the question of 22 May from the hon. Member for Newport, West concerning military to civil industrial conversion.
Mr. Sainsbury [holding answer 23 October 1992] : The meeting confirmed that the conversion of military plants in eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union may be seen
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as an end in itself, but where there are no commercial means to achieve it is not of direct interest to my Department.Board of Trade
Mr. Pope : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what are the functions of the Board of Trade ; who are its members ; and when it last met.
Mr. Heseltine [holding answer 7 December 1992] : Under the Order in Council of 23 August 1786, the Board of Trade was appointed to deal with all matters relating to trade and foreign plantations. Its members are the Lord Archibisop of Canterbury, the First Lord Commissioner of the Treasury, the First Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty, Her Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State, the Chancellor and Under Treasurer of the Exchequer, the Speaker of the House of Commons, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and the Paymaster General. The last meeting of the board, which was held to coincide with its bicentenary, was on 21 March 1986.
Mr. Pope : To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he proposes to answer the question from the Member for Hyndburn of 18 November regarding the Board of Trade.
Mr. Heseltine : I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave today.
ENVIRONMENT
Water Quality
Mr. Pawsey : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many EC countries have been or are currently being prosecuted for failing to implement EC directives on water quality ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Maclean : My Department holds details of the number of infraction cases referred to the European Court of Justice following a reasoned opinion for the period 1983-92. This information in respect of water quality directives is as follows :
1983-87
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Belgium |titanium dioxide waste
Belgium |pollution of groundwater
Greece |pollution of groundwater
Greece |mercury and cadmium discharges
Italy |water quality for freshwater fish
Italy |pollution of groundwater
Netherlands |pollution of groundwater
1988
France |drinking water
Germany |pollution of groundwater
Italy |water quality for freshwater fish
1989
Belgium |drinking water
Belgium |quality of surface water for drinking, and
| measurement and sampling of surface water
France |quality of surface water for drinking, and
| measurement and sampling of surface water
Germany |quality of surface water for drinking, and
| measurement and sampling of surface water
Greece |quality of surface water for drinking
Italy |discharges of HCH
Italy |discharges of cadmium
Spain |pollution of groundwater
Spain |discharges of HCH
United Kingdom |drinking water
1990
Germany |drinking water
Italy |discharges of cadmium
United Kingdom |bathing water
1991
None
1992
None to date
Empty Office Buildings
Mr. Cox : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the estimated numbers of empty office buildings in the Greater London area on 1 December ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Baldry : Information on the number of empty office buildings in Greater London is not kept by this Department.
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Carbon Dioxide Emissions
Mr. Cran : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what part he expects electricity generated by combined cycle gas turbine stations to play in reducing United Kingdom carbon dioxide emissions to 1990 levels by the year 2000.
Mr. Maclean : Combined cycle gas turbine stations emit around half as much carbon dioxide (CO ) as conventional coal fired plants per unit of electricity generated. The discussion document, "Climate Change : Our National Programme for CO Emissions", published on 14 December, sets out a number of options for limiting CO emissions. Decisions on the programme as a whole will be taken in the light of decisions taken pursuant to the coal review.
Local Government Finance
Mr. Knox : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table showing the breakdown of local authority revenue for each year from 1979-80 to 1992-93, with estimates for 1993-94, in terms of (i) Government grants, (ii) non-domestic rates and (iii) domestic rates or community charges or council tax, expressed both in pound million and as a percentage.
Mr. Robin Squire : The available information is as follows :
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Local Authority Revenue Expenditure
Revenue ExGovernment Grants Non-Domestic Domestic
Rates Rates/Community
Charges
|£ million|£ million|Per cent.|£ million|Per cent.|£ million|Per cent.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1981-82 |20,106 |11,234 |56 |5,013 |25 |4,034 |20
1982-83 |21,952 |11,705 |53 |5,685 |26 |4,548 |21
1983-84 |23,263 |12,584 |54 |6,042 |26 |4,382 |19
1984-85 |24,119 |13,126 |54 |6,361 |26 |4,707 |20
1985-86 |24,284 |13,069 |54 |6,740 |28 |5,094 |21
1986-87 |26,630 |13,402 |50 |7,566 |28 |5,912 |22
1987-88 |28,980 |14,274 |49 |8,088 |28 |6,539 |23
1988-89 |31,240 |14,469 |46 |8,819 |28 |7,689 |25
1989-90 |33,282 |14,707 |44 |9,595 |29 |8,487 |26
1990-91 |35,893 |15,004 |42 |10,429 |29 |10,109 |28
1991-92 |40,137 |20,820 |52 |12,408 |31 |6,381 |16
1992-93 |42,934 |23,246 |54 |12,306 |29 |7,213 |17
Notes:
1. For the years 1981-82 to 1989-90, local authority expenditure is taken to be "relevant
expenditure" plus expenditure on certain non-relevant items such as net expenditure on
mandatory student awards. It represents spending to be financed by rate support grant,
relevant specific grant, rates and balances. This measure of expenditure is net of sales,
fees and charges, interest receipts etc. For the years 1990-91 to 1993-94 local authority
expenditure is "revenue expenditure to compare with TSS" which is expenditure to be met
from revenue support grant, specific and special grants in aggregate external finance,
non-domestic rates, community charges/council tax and appropriation from reserves. In
1991-92 this also included community charge grant.
2. For the years 1981-82 to 1989-90 Government grants comprise aggregate Exchequer grant
and rate rebate grants. For 1990-91 to 1992-93 Government grants included are revenue
support grant, specific and special grants in aggregate external finance, community
charge grant (1991-92), community charge benefit grant and transitional relief-community
charge reduction scheme grant.
3. For the years 1981-82 to 1989-90, this represents non-domestic rate yields net of rate
relief. For the years 1990-91 to 1993-94 this represents the distributable amount from
the non-domestic rates pool.
4. Net of domestic rate rebates for the years 1981-82 to 1989-90. Net of community charge
benefit grant and transitional relief/community charge reduction scheme grant for the
years 1990-91 to 1992-93.
5. The information is not available for years prior to 1981/82.
6. The column percentages do not add to 100 per cent. because of withdrawals from or
additions to reserves.
For 1993-94, total standard spending--excluding care in the community--is £41.168 billion of which, it is estimated, £23.061 billion--or 56 per cent.--will be met by revenue support grant, specific and special grants in
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aggregate external finance, council tax benefit grant and the council tax transitional reduction scheme grant, £11.559 billion--or 28 per cent.--will be met by the distributable amount from the non domestic rates pool and £6.541 billion--or 16 per cent.--will be met by council tax net of estimated council tax benefit grant and council tax transitional reduction scheme grant.Departmental Staff
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list by grade and location, the number of staff employed by his Department throughout the United Kingdom.
Mr. Howard : Following is the information for non-industrial staff :
Economic region |Number
---------------------------------------------------------------
Eastern
HEO and equivalent |1
EO and equivalent |2
AO and equivalent |2
AA and equivalent |1
|---
Total |6
East Midlands
Grade 4 |1
Grade 6 |2
Grade 7 |12
SEO and equivalent |11
EO and equivalent |23
AO and equivalent |32
AA and equivalent |24
|---
Total |121
London
Grade 1 |1
Grade 2 |7
Grade 3 |26
Grade 4 |6
Grade 5 |115
Grade 6 |249
Grade 7 |590
SEO and equivalent |487
HEO and equivalent |697
EO and equivalent |803
AO and equivalent |962
AA and equivalent |496
Special Grades |7
|---
Total |4,446
North West
Grade 3 |2
Grade 5 |5
Grade 6 |4
SEO and equivalent |56
HEO and equivalent |68
EO and equivalent |100
AO and equivalent |151
AA and equivalent |78
Special Grades |1
|---
Total |510
Northern
Grade 3 |1
Grade 5 |2
Grade 6 |1
Grade 7 |14
SEO and equivalent |17
HEO and equivalent |18
EO and equivalent |26
AO and equivalent |32
AA and equivalent |22
|---
Total |133
Scotland
Grade 6 |2
Grade 7 |6
SEO and equivalent |8
HEO and equivalent |11
EO and equivalent |14
AO and equivalent |25
AA and equivalent |7
|---
Total |73
South East
Grade 3 |1
Grade 5 |3
Grade 6 |6
Grade 7 |26
SEO and equivalent |39
HEO and equivalent |34
EO and equivalent |60
AO and equivalent |124
AA and equivalent |87
|---
Total |380
South West
Grade 3 |2
Grade 4 |2
Grade 5 |13
Grade 6 |22
Grade 7 |49
SEO and equivalent |60
HEO and equivalent |110
EO and equivalent |165
AO and equivalent |309
AA and equivalent |181
Special Grades |1
|---
Total |914
Wales
Grade 6 |10
Grade 7 |5
SEO and equivalent |6
HEO and equivalent |3
EO and equivalent |3
AO and equivalent |3
AA and equivalent |4
|---
Total |34
West Midlands
Grade 3 |1
Grade 5 |3
Grade 6 |1
Grade 7 |21
SEO and equivalent |21
HEO and equivalent |27
EO and equivalent |38
AO and equivalent |58
AA and equivalent |33
|---
Total |203
Yorkshire and Humberside
Grade 3 |1
Grade 5 |3
Grade 6 |3
Grade 7 |19
SEO and equivalent |41
HEO and equivalent |29
EO and equivalent |40
AO and equivalent |52
AA and equivalent |41
|---
Total |229
|---
Grand Total |7,049
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list by grade and location the number of staff employed in his Department's headquarters buildings in London.
Mr. Howard : Following is the information for non-industrial staff based in Marsham street, Romney house, St. Christopher house and Lambeth Bridge house :
|Number
---------------------------------
Grade 1 |1
Grade 2 |7
Grade 3 |22
Grade 4 |5
Grade 5 |95
Grade 6 |73
Grade 7 |371
SEO and equivalent |309
HEO and equivalent |476
EO and equivalent |579
AO and equivalent |675
AA and equivalent |379
Special grades |3
|------
Grand Total |2,995
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list by grade, the number of staff employed by his Department.
Mr. Howard : Following is the information :
|Number
-----------------------------------
Grade 1 staff |1
Grade 2 staff |7
Grade 3 staff |34
Grade 4 staff |9
Grade 5 staff |145
Grade 6 staff |300
Grade 7 staff |788
SEO and equivalent |748
HEO and equivalent |1,016
EO and equivalent |1,276
AO and equivalent |1,751
AA and equivalent |975
Special grades |9
Grand Total |7,059
Pilot Plant Emissions
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to ask Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution to make any additions to its guidance relating to pilot plant emissions and novel processes following the appeal by ICI against the setting of quantitative release limits for its HFC32 experimental production unit ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Maclean : The appeal by ICI has yet to be determined by the Secretary of State, and therefore no further advice can be given in relation to this appeal at this stage.
However, as a general principle, it is reasonable to set quantitative limits for all prescribed processes, after due consideration of all credible potential releases. If, due to the novel nature of a process, greater awareness of release limits improves with operation, then the authorisation
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may be amended to reflect this. In line with Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution's precautionary approach to pollution control, quantitative release limits are required in order to demonstrate compliance, through monitoring, with the requirements of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, particularly the requirement to apply best available techniques not entailing excessive cost/best practical environmental options.Vehicle Noise
Mr. Dafis : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what additional resources will be granted to local authorities and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency towards the implementation of the extended noise nuisance abatement powers under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
Mr. Maclean : In June, my Department consulted on proposals to extend the statutory abatement procedures of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to include noise in the street. The responses to this consultation are currently being considered. If new legislation is introduced, potential savings and additional costs will be taken into account in revenue support grant settlements for the appropriate financial year.
Local Authorities
Mr. David Shaw : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list for each English and Welsh local authority (a) its population, (b) its number of employees, (c) the number of employees per thousand population and (d) the political party in control.
Mr. Robin Squire : I have today placed the information requested about local authority employees, for England, in the Library of the House. The information shows staff numbers for all general services taken from the joint staffing watch.
Staffing levels of local authorities in Wales are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.
Aerials and Antennae
Mr. Fraser : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what planning guidance he has issued in relation to the control of aerials and antennae on high grounds.
Mr. Baldry : We will publish a revised planning policy guidance note 8 "Telecommunications" on Monday 21 December 1992.
Recycling
Ms. Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will exempt local authority expenditure on recycling from the financial costs mechanism of the standard spending assessment ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Robin Squire : Standard spending assessments reflect the revenue costs of providing a standard level of service across the full range of local authority services, including recycling. Under the provisional capping criteria, which my right hon. and learned Friend announced in his statement on 26 November, no local authority expenditure would be outside the capping regime.
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