House of Commons Hansard Debates for 27 Jan 1993

Mrs. Ewing : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when it is expected that the used fuel core from HMS Revenge will be removed ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Aitken : I refer the hon. Lady to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Leyton (Mr. Cohen) on 14 December at column 81.

Mrs. Ewing : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans there are for the long-term disposal of used fuel cores from nuclear- powered submarines which are currently stored at Sellafield.

Mr. Aitken : It is planned to continue with the safe storage of nuclear submarine used fuel cores currently held at BNFL Sellafield. No decisions have been taken on their long-term disposal.

Mrs. Ewing : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the usual time scale for submarines taken to Rosyth for decommissioning before being defuelled ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Aitken : There is no usual timescale ; we have only previously taken one submarine to Rosyth for decommissioning.

Mrs. Ewing : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give details of the minimum and maximum time period which submarines taken to Rosyth for decommissioning have had to wait before being defuelled ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Aitken : Only one submarine has been taken to Rosyth for decommissioning and defuelling has not yet commenced.

Mrs. Ewing : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the expected time scale for any submarines taken to Rosyth in the future for decommissioning before being defuelled ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Aitken : We plan for a six-month timescale, but this will depend on the availability of docks for defuelling.

HMS Valiant

Mrs. Ewing : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when HMS Valiant is expected to return into service on completion of repairs at Rosyth dockyard ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Aitken : This is expected in May 1993.

HMS Renown

Mrs. Ewing : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost of the recent refit of HMS Renown at the time the contract was placed ; what the final cost was on completion ; and what are the reasons for the difference.

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Mr. Aitken : The total estimated cost of the project at the time the contract was placed was just over £152 million at 1992-93 prices. Final cost certificates have not yet been presented but the current estimate of cost is in the region of £200 million.

The difference between these figures is due mainly to a change in the method of assessing costs following commercialisation--this refit straddled vesting day--programme delays and additional equipment improvements.

Weapons Proliferation

Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his current assessment of the likely course of Iraq's nuclear weapons programme had they not been interrupted, in the light of information received from the United Nations inspection teams.

Mr. Archie Hamilton : The United Nations inspection teams have found incontrovertible evidence that Iraq was developing a crude nuclear warhead design. The earliest that Iraq could have completed its first nuclear weapon, had its programme not been interrupted, would have been by 1993.

Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the countries which in his judgment currently possess (a) nuclear and (b) ballistic missiles.

Mr. Archie Hamilton : Currently, strategic nuclear weapons are deployed in the United Kingdom, United States, France, China, Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan. Countries possessing ballistic missiles, excluding NATO members, include Afghanistan, Belarus, Bulgaria, China, the Czech Republic, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Kazakhstan, Libya, North Korea, Poland, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, South Korea, Syria, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam and Yemen.

Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his current assessment of the countries who (a) possess chemical weapons, (b) possess biological weapons and (c) are engaged in research in developing chemical and biological weapons.

Mr. Archie Hamilton : It is assessed that approximately 20 countries either possess or may be developing an offensive chemical warfare capability. It is assessed that about 10 countries either possess or seek to acquire an offensive biological weapons capability.

SOCIAL SECURITY

London Weighting

Mr. McMaster : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what London weightings are applied to social security benefits.

Mr. Burt : The social security system provides a comprehensive set of national benefits. Regional variations are therefore not generally appropriate, except where benefits reflect actual expenditure, such as those offering help with housing costs. A Greater London extension is available in income support for people in nursing and residential care homes.

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Ozone Depletion

Mr. Chris Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many catastrophic leaks of ozone-depleting substances have occurred within his Department's buildings in the last five years.

Miss Widdecombe : Our records do not show that any such incident has occurred.

Mr. Chris Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much funding has been allocated or spent to specifically deal with measures to reduce his Department's consumption of ozone-depleting substances.

Miss Widdecombe : Expenditure is mainly incurred as part of the capital works and building maintenance programmes. It is not possible to identify the extent to which environmental measures formed part of these programmes.

Mr. Chris Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what the latest available figures are for his Department's total purchase of CFCs and HCFCs ;

(2) how many CFC and HCFC installations are contained within his Department's buildings.

Miss Widdecombe : The information requested is currently not available. We are considering how this information can be collected to enable us to meet the commitment, in our green housekeeping strategy, to eliminate the use of ozone-depleting substances.

Mr. Chris Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many portable halon fire extinguishers are contained within departmental buildings ; and what measures are being taken to ensure their recycling and replacement.

Miss Widdecombe : Information about the number held is not available. Replacement of extinguishers is being undertaken by contractors who are working to professional codes of practice.

Mr. Chris Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many CFC domestic fridges are contained within his Department's building.

Miss Widdecombe : Information about domestic fridges is not available centrally.

Mr. Chris Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what guidance has been sought and received on alternatives or substitutes to the ozone-destroying chemicals in use by his Department.

Miss Widdecombe : Advice and guidance on the environmental aspects of ozone-depleting substances in buildings is provided by the Department of the Environment. Advice relating to particular buildings is provided by the managing contractors or agents responsible for the maintenance of the building or the suitably qualified consultants.

Mr. Chris Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what proportion of his Department's consumption of

ozone-depleting substances become controlled waste in terms of section 33 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 ;

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(2) what action has been taken to ensure that ozone-destroying substances consumed by his Department are identified as controlled wastes when they are no longer in use ;

(3) what measures have been taken to ensure that ozone-destroying substances in use by his Department identified as controlled waste under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 do not reach the atmosphere.

Miss Widdecombe : Information about the quantity of ozone-depleting substances in use in the Department is not available. Such substances, when no longer in use, are removed by contractors who are required to comply with the relevant legislation and associated codes of practice.

Mr. Chris Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how the departmental Green Minister has promoted protection of the ozone layer with specific policy measures ; which possible measures have been considered and rejected ; and on what grounds ; (2) what targets have been set for the recycling of ozone-depleting chemicals within departmental buildings.

Miss Widdecombe : A green housekeeping strategy, setting out the Department's policy for the use of its resources and designed to ensure that full account is taken of the needs of the environment, was adopted in 1992. All members of staff have been made aware of the strategy and an action plan for its implementation will be in place by the end of March. This will include, wherever possible, targets for the various measures. The policy will be reviewed periodically, and no possible measure has been rejected.

Mr. Chris Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many refrigeration and air conditioning systems in his Department are equipped with automatic leak detection systems.

Miss Widdecombe : There is refrigerant leakage detection installed on some equipment but information on the number is not readily available.

Mr. Chris Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what is the quantity of ozone-depleting substances recycled within his Department and returned to the manufacturer ;

(2) if he will provide details from the maintenance and servicing record of the quantity and type of ozone-destroying chemicals used annually in his Department's refrigeration and air conditioning equipment for servicing and in leakages ; and what proportion is removed for recycling.

Miss. Widdecombe : The information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Our policy is to eliminate the use of these substances.

Mr. Chris Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security by what date his Department's use of ozone-depleting chemicals will conform to EC regulations on limits on these chemicals.

Miss Widdecombe : Target dates for the recovery, recycling and phasing out of ozone depleting substances will be included in the Department's action plan, which will be in place by the end of March, for the implementation of our green housekeeping strategy. The

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aim will be to have taken all the appropriate measures to meet the phase out dates agreed at the European Council of Ministers on 15 December.

Mr. Chris Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security which current uses of ozone-depleting chemicals by his Department are considered essential.

Miss Widdecombe : Information is not currently available, but we will be identifying uses of ozone-depleting substances in implementing our green housekeeping strategy.

Mr. Chris Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make it his policy to purchase only ozone-friendly fridges that do not contain CFCs or HCFCs for his Department.

Miss Widdecombe : It is our existing policy to ensure that our purchasing activities take environmental considerations fully into account.

Mr. Chris Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what quantity of HCFC 22 is purchased by his Department per annum.

Miss Widdecombe : The information is not available but it is our policy to purchase environmentally-friendly products where appropriate.

Means-tested Benefits

Mr. Bradley : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the number of people made eligible for means-tested benefits because of the Government's imposition of a 1.5 per cent. pay limit for public sector workers ; and what will be the total cost of payments of these extra benefits.

Mr. Burt : I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Cumbernauld and Kilsyth (Mr. Hogg) on 30 November 1992 at column 68.

Cold Weather Payments

Mr. McMaster : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the period of cold weather between 10 and 14 January ; what was the average temperature during the period ; what was the lowest temperature during the period ; in which areas the payment of cold weather allowances was triggered ; and what was the cost to the Exchequer.

Mr. Scott : The information is available in the Library.

Mr. McMaster : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the current level of cold weather payments ; how it is calculated ; how often it is uprated ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Scott : Payments of £6 are made automatically to eligible people for every period of seven days where the average temperature is 0 C or below. The amount is designed to provide a significant contribution to extra heating costs and is kept under review. The main source of help with heating costs is provided through income support, and is uprated annually.

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Income Support

Mr. Battle : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what extra money is to be given from April 1993 to those who currently receive the terminal-illness level of income support and are cared for by registered private nursing homes.

Mr. Burt : The income support personal expenses allowance will be uprated by the Rossi index (retail prices index less certain housing costs.) In addition £1 million has been transferred from the Social Security budget to the Department of Health for 1993-94 to ensure that additional funds are directed specifically to terminally ill people in hospices. This is in addition to the £1 million transferred for each of the years 1992-93 to 1994-95.

From April 1993, under the community care scheme, all new residents of nursing homes who need public support will have their needs assessed by the local authority who will contract with individual homes for their fees.

Invalid Care Allowances

Mr. Burden : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people would benefit each year and what is his estimate of the cost, of amending the present contribution conditions so as to allow contributions paid in any previous tax year, instead of the previous two, to count towards invalid care allowance recipients' entitlement to unemployment benefit.

Mr. Burt : The information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Claimants, Liverpool

Mr. Alton : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much unemployment benefit has been paid to claimants in the Liverpool travel-to-work area in the last 12 months and for each of the previous years for which figures are available.

Mr. Burt : The information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Industrial Diseases

Mr. Alfred Morris : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what recent representations he has had in regard to the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council's recommendation to him in August 1992 to prescribe emphysema and chronic bronchitis in relation to underground coalminers ; what replies he is sending ; what action he has so far taken in regard to the report ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Scott : We have received a number of inquiries from Members of Parliament and members of the public about the council's recommendation and its implementation. Our response and the action we are taking are summarised in my reply to the right hon. Member on 14 December 1992 at column 76.

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Actors

Mr. Burden : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether work within the acting profession may be classified as full time for the purposes of his Department's rules and regulations concerning income support and unemployment benefit claims.

Mr. Burt : People working less than 16 hours a week may qualify for income support provided they are available for work for not less than 24 hours a week. The rules apply in the same way to people who are employed or self-employed, whatever type of work they are engaged in.

Unemployment benefit may be payable for each day of unemployment in which a person earns £2 or less. But it is not payable for any week in which a person earns not less than £54 (the weekly earnings limit for national insurance contributions).

ENVIRONMENT

Construction Industry

14. Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had with representatives of the construction industry as to possible changes in the present system of holding retention moneys ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Baldry : I have had no discussions about the general system of retention money. I am aware of concerns about this matter and welcome moves within the industry to examine alternatives. This is one of the matters that we expect to be considered in the proposed joint Government-industry review of contracting and procurement arrangements in the construction industry.

Sir Michael Neubert : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of increased activity in the housing and construction industry following the Chancellor of the Exchequer's autumn statement.

Sir George Young : Depending on the way local authorities spend the funds available, and the extent of the private sector funding attracted, we estimate that the additional spending generated by the autumn statement could generate between 40,000 and 90,000 employees years of employment in the construction industry in 1993-94. We also estimate that the 1 per cent. cut in interest rates announced in the statement could result in an increase of 1 per cent. in construction output on all private works. In the short-term, with interest rates at their lowest since 1978, this will mainly benefit the housing sector.

Mr. Nicholas Winterton : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement outlining those steps which have been taken by his Department since 9 April 1992 specifically to assist the United Kingdom construction industry ; and what future action he intends to take to assist the construction industry.

Mr. Baldry [holding answer 26 January 1993] : During this year's public expenditure round my Department was active in making the case for maintaining capital spending and infrastructure spending. Measures which will assist the industry include :

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£750 million to support the Housing Corporation

£1.75 billion of spending from local authority capital receipts retention of provision for the Jubilee line extension

relaxation of the rules for private and joint financing of infrastructure and other projects

a capital partnership scheme to assist local authorities in levering private sector contributions to projects

special tax and capital allowances

We have supported export efforts by the industry. Ministers led trade delegations to Indonesia and Vietnam. We have worked with industry and the DTI to support building material task forces for specific countries.

We have maintained an active research programme and increased industry collaboration during the year. We have established working groups with the industry to improve knowledge and understanding of new legislative developments--here and in the European Community. We have established an advisory committee to improve the coverage of construction statistics and the use made of them.

We have continued to advance the interest of building material producers in the development of the Construction Products Directive and other associated European standards.

We have introduced new building regulations which reduce the regulatory burden on the industry while giving greater flexibility for designers.

I have also established a fortnightly series of meetings at which representatives of the industry can put to me any matters of concern to them.

Superquarries

15. Mrs. Ray Michie : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his Department's policy in respect of superquarries ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Baldry : I believe that coastal superquarries could provide an increasing contribution to aggregates supplies in England. Their potential has been taken into account in the current review of "Mineral Planning Guidance Note 6" which is now the subject of public consultation.

Local Authority Fraud

16. Mr. Bellingham : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has made of the cost to public funds of local authority fraud ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Redwood : Auditors of local authorities report to the Audit Commission all cases of fraud of £500 or over. On this basis, the amount reported for 1991-92 was £930,000 ; and for the first nine months of 1992-93 is estimated at £2.5 million.

Armed Forces (Housing)

17. Mr. Viggers : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the impact on the demand for local authority housing of the acceleration of retirement from the armed forces under the "Options for Change" programme.

Sir George Young : Inquiries by my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Defence about the intentions of people leaving the armed forces under the "Options for Change" programme indicate that they will be dispersing around the country. This means that the

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