House of Commons Hansard Debates for 15 Mar 1993

Archaeological Monuments

Mr. Martlew : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action his Department takes to ensure that all archaeological monuments on military land are (a)

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protected from damage and destruction (b) effectively managed ; how many scheduled monuments are contained on land owned by his Department ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Archie Hamilton : My Department is very conscious of its responsibilities for the stewardship of archaeological monuments. The majority are located on military training areas and, where necessary, restrictions are imposed on the types of training which can be undertaken. On the largest training area, Salisbury Plain, we have recently completed a management agreement for the major archaeological site groups in conjunction with English Heritage ; elsewhere monuments are cared for by the defence land agent in close consultation with the relevant national and county archaeological bodies. The exact number of archaeological monuments on the defence estate could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Leishmaniasis

Mr. Hinchcliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what investigations he has undertaken to identify potential Leishmaniasis contamination among personnel serving during the Gulf crisis ;

(2) what studies he has undertaken to ensure that military personnel returning from the Gulf are not contaminated with Leishmaniasis.

Mr. Archie Hamilton : All military personnel are subject to regular medical examination. Clinical surveillance of military personnel exposed to the risk of tropical disease, including Leishmaniasis, was maintained during the Gulf crisis and continues to be maintained.

Mr. Hinchcliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has on the incidence of Leishmaniasis in military personnel serving during the Gulf war.

Mr. Archie Hamilton : No cases of Leishmaniasis have been found among British military personnel who served in the Gulf during the Gulf crisis.

RAF Support Management Group

Mr. Robert Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many visiting officials were involved, and over what period, in the consideration being given to the use of the Army apprentices college for the RAF support management group, Harrogate.

Mr. Archie Hamilton : Use of the Pennypot site occupied by the Army apprentices school was considered in 1992 as part of the original options studied for the location of the RAF support management group. Early this year a further appraisal was put in train to take account of the possible availability of the whole site. Seven officers and officials have visited Pennypot in this connection.

RAF Wyton

Mr. Robert Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the latest estimated cost of relocating staff to the proposed logistics organisation at RAF Wyton.

Mr. Archie Hamilton : About £14 million.

Mr. Robert Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what indications he has received from civilian

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employees at the RAF support management group in Harrogate as to their willingness to transfer to RAF Wyton.

Mr. Archie Hamilton : A first preference exercise was conducted late last year. The form set out a range of possible future locations. Some 40 per cent. of civilian mobile grades and 30 per cent. of non-mobile grades expressed a preference which included moving to Brampton or Wyton.

Mr. Robert Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will set out the numbers and types of personnel currently employed at RAF Wyton.

Mr. Archie Hamilton : There are around 188 service and 200 civilian personnel at RAF Wyton. They include air crew, engineers, administrators and supporting staff.

Mr. Robert Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many civilian and military personnel are scheduled to move from RAF Wyton in the foreseeable future ; and what are the projected costs.

Mr. Archie Hamilton : I hope to make a further announcement about the future of RAF Wyton shortly.

Mr. Robert Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his present budget for redundancy payments to civilian staff at the RAF support management group in Harrogate arising from his proposals to relocate to RAF Wyton.

Mr. Archie Hamilton : We assumed a redundancy liability of around £7 million in assessing the relocation at RAF Wyton of the RAF support management group and related units. This is a worst case scenario : we would hope in practice to do better.

Mr. Robert Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the projected costs for training new members of staff in civilian grades resulting from the proposed amalgamation of units under Logistics Command at RAF Wyton.

Mr. Archie Hamilton : The direct additional training costs are put at about £600,000. In addition, some £2.5 million has been estimated to cover various transitional costs, including dual manning during initial training of new staff.

Mr. Robert Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to make available the figures and evaluations of the use of the Army Apprentices College, Harrogate, for the RAF support management group in Harrogate with or without other units.

Mr. Archie Hamilton : I expect the current appraisal of the site for possible use by RAF Logistic Command to be completed shortly. My intention would be to make the relevant material available then, subject to the usual constraints of commercial sensitivity and confidentiality.

RFA Argus

Mr. Menzies Campbell : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the capacity of the troop accommodation on RFA Argus ; and how many troops are currently being carried on the vessel.

Mr. Archie Hamilton : In addition to her normal ship's complement, RFA Argus's design provides for accommodation for a further 120 personnel. For limited periods,

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however, a much greater number can be accommodated, as has recently been required in the Adriatic. Circumstances have now allowed us to return the majority of those personnel to the United Kingdom. About 50 troops remain aboard, however, to help maintain the embarked equipment.

Mr. Menzies Campbell : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the RFA Argus first came into service.

Mr. Archie Hamilton : In 1988.

Mr. Menzies Campbell : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the normal complement of officers and men on RFA Argus.

Mr. Archie Hamilton : The normal complement of RFA Argus is four officers, 13 senior ratings and 33 junior ratings (RN) and 25 officers, 12 senior ratings and 43 junior ratings (RFA).

Mr. Menzies Campbell : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many baths, showers, lavatories and urinals there are on RFA Argus ; and how many portable lavatories are in use on the vessel.

Mr. Archie Hamilton : RFA Argus has 43 showers and 45 lavatories. Like most commercially-designed vessels, she does not have baths or urinals. Recently, additional portable showers and toilets were required because a substantial force of troops was embarked in the Adriatic. However, since the majority of the additonal personel have now returned to the United Kingdom, these facilities are no longer required.

Chlorofluorocarbons

Mr. Liam Fox : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proposals he has to support his Department's critical applications of substances controlled under the Montreal protocol ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Archie Hamilton : The Montreal protocol and EC Regulations 3592/92 will shortly require the cessation of production and supply of ozone depleting substances. The Ministry of Defence as a major user of the substances has recognised the significant role it has to play in contributing to the United Kingdom's overall programme of compliance.

My Department has a small number of critical applications where continued use of the controlled substances is considered essential when assessed against internationally agreed criteria.

We have decided, in accordance with good environmental practice, to support these essential uses by a conservation policy involving the banking and recycling of the substances. This will ensure that personnel and assets are protected during the transitional period between the end of production and the arrival on the market of replacements or alternatives.

It is our intention to establish a bank of Montreal protocol substances at RAF Cardington, Bedfordshire, subject to local planning consent. RAF Cardington is a natural site for the bank and it is the tri-service centre for compressed gases.

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CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

Investment Policy

34. Mr. Bowden : To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, as representing the Church Commissioners, what weight the Church Commissioners give to the competitive record of companies in which they invest.

Mr. Alison : The commissioners invest in a company only after careful assessment of a number of factors relating to the company's financial and corporate health, including its competitive record.

Stipends

35. Mr. Flynn : To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, as representing the Church Commissioners, what plans the Church Commissioners have to improve the level of stipends of clergymen.

Mr. Alison : The commissioners' policy, as central stipends authority, is for stipends levels to rise at least in line with the cost of living. Incumbents' average stipends have improved by 29 per cent. against the retail prices index over the last 10 years. Because of the change in local taxation arrangements and their method of payment, largely unaltered stipend levels will, from April, represent an effective increase of about 4 per cent.

Land (Auctions)

36. Dr. Spink : To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, as representing the Church Commissioners in what circumstances it is the commissioners' practice to withdraw land known to be of high conservation value from public auction and negotiate direct with a prospective purchaser.

Mr. Alison : The commissioners' obligations to their beneficiaries require them to test the market properly when disposing of any land and to consider the best method of disposal in the circumstances. In the case of land subject to an SSSI designation which is of high conservation value, the commissioners operate an informal early warning system with English Nature. This is to allow local nature conservation bodies a reasonable time to raise funds so that they may be in a position to submit an offer when the land is put on the market.

Ordination of Women

37. Mr. Fabricant : To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, as representing the Church Commissioners what progress has been made by the Church Commissioners in making provision for the financial consequences of the ordination of women.

Mr. Alison : The financial provision for those resigning the ministry on this account is a statutory charge on the commissioners' general fund and, to the extent that such costs are incurred, will mean less is available for other things.

38. Mrs. Gorman : To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, as representing the Church Commissioners what estimate he has made of the financial effects for the commissioners of the ordination of women to the priesthood.

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Mr. Alison : I refer the hon. Lady to the oral answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Hendon, South (Mr. Marshall) earlier today.

ENVIRONMENT

Urban Regeneration

Mr. Frank Field : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list each grant or fund not referrable to a local authority or to a travel-to-work area that exists to assist private sector interests in respect of urban regeneration schemes ; (2) if he will list each grant or fund not referrable to a local authority or to a travel-to-work area that exists to assist private sector interests in respect of urban regeneration schemes ; (3) if he will list each fund available to an urban programme authority for urban regeneration from 1993 onwards excluding city challenge and any funds due to be dealt with by the urban regeneration agency ;

(4) if he will list each fund available to a non-urban programme authority for urban regeneration from 1993 onwards excluding city challenge and any funds due to be dealt with by the urban regeneration agency.

Mr. Robin Squire : The Government provide valuable support to the private sector through a wide range of programmes, including those of the Department of Trade and Industry, Employment Department and the Department of the Environment. Under my Department's urban group of programmes, the private sector receives specific help towards urban regeneration through the urban development corporations, city grant and private sector derelict land grant. This is in addition to assistance available through other urban group programmes such as city challenge, urban programme, task forces and city action teams.

Mr. Frank Field : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list each fund available to (a) a non-urban programme authority and (b) an urban programme authority for urban regeneration at present ; where the rules, criteria, application details and other background papers for each fund may be found ; and if he will list each fund available from 1993, in each case, together with any funds to be dealt with by the urban regeneration agency.

Mr. Robin Squire : My Department's urban group of programmes are targeted mainly on the 57 urban priority areas except derelict land grant and the special grants programme which also operate outside those areas. Programmes currently operating and continuing in 1993 are :

Programme

City challenge

Urban programme

City grants

Derelict land grant

UDCs

Task forces

City action teams

Special grants programme

Programmes operated through local authorities.

Both programmes to be transferred to the Urban Regeneration Agency.

Trafford Park UDC covers a small area outside the UPA.

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In addition, my Department's housing programmes, including housing renewal and estate action, also contribute to urban regeneration. Further details of these and other programmes, including the relevant criteria, are in my Department's 1993 annual report. Relevant programme guidance is available on request from my Department.

Mr. Vaz : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to appoint the chief executive of the urban regeneration agency ; and if he will make a statement on progress made in making the appointment.

Mr. Robin Squire : In accordance with the provisions of the Housing and Urban Development Bill, and subject to its enactment, the chief executive will be appointed by the agency when established. In consultation with Lord Walker, my Department advertised the post in February with a closing date for applications of 12 March. Lord Walker will play a leading role in the selection process.

Mr. Vaz : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many representations he has received (a) in favour of and (b) against the appointment of democratically elected representatives from local government to the board of the urban regeneration agency.

Mr. Robin Squire : The Department received more than 300 responses to the consultation paper on the urban regeneration agency which was issued in July 1992. Of these, 32 stated that at least one of the members of the agency's board should represent local government. There were no responses specifically opposed to the appointment of local authority representatives.

Tenants' Choice Legislation

Mrs. Gorman : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the key steps which need to be undertaken by tenants who seek to take advantage of the tenants' choice legislation, and the anticipated maximum and minimum periods of time required to undertake each step.

Mr. Baldry : Tenants who wish to take advantage of the tenants' choice legislation should contact the Housing Corporation to discuss possible alternative landlords.

Once an alternative landlord has been chosen, the Housing Corporation will assess the level of tenant support. If there is sufficient support in principle for the proposed transfer, and the applicant landlord has met the corporation's requirements for approval, a formal tenants' choice application can be made to the local authority.

The legislation sets out a timetable for each of the statutory procedures which the parties are expected to observe.

Mrs. Gorman : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many tenants' organisations have (a) obtained grants from his Department or from the Housing Corporation to assist in the investigation of tenants' choice, (b) sought such grants, but had their applications turned down, (c) sought such grants, but not had their applications determined and (d) achieved a management transfer under the tenants' choice legislation ; and what is the average lapse of time between (a) and (d)

Mr. Baldry : My Department does not make grants directly to organisations to assist with tenants' choice. This

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is the responsibility of the Housing Corporation and I have therefore asked the corporation to reply to the hon. Member direct.

Mrs. Gorman : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what powers he has to pay grants to organisations providing advice for local authority tenants ; and if he will list the amount paid in grant under each power in the last year for which information is available.

Mr. Baldry : The Secretary of State has powers under section 429A of the Housing Act 1985 (as amended by section 16 of the Housing and Planning Act 1986) to offer financial assistance to persons managing public sector or former public sector housing and to persons seeking to facilitate or encourage improvements in, or providing services in connection with, the management of such housing.

Within this broad discretionary power the Department makes grants available to organisations which provide advice to local authority tenants on the range of options available to them for increased participation in the management of their housing.

Grants paid under this power during 1992-93 have totalled £5,318, 730.

The Secretary of State also has prerogative power to make non-statutory grants to organisations providing advice to local authority tenants through the Department's special grants programme. No such schemes have been funded in this way in 1992-93.

Mrs. Gorman : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the working of the tenants' choice legislation listing the types of new tenure or management available to local authority tenants, and the number of estates which have been transferred to each type of new tenure or management ; and what plans he has to develop this policy.

Mr. Baldry : Tenants' choice gives local authority tenants who wish to continue renting their homes the opportunity to change their landlord. All applicant landlords must be approved by the Housing Corporation and can be a housing association, a tenant-controlled body or a commercial organisation.

There have been two transfers to date. In one the new landlord is a tenant- controlled housing association, which employs an existing housing association as a managing agent. In the other, the new landlord is an existing housing association.

The operation of the policy is kept under regular review.

Mrs. Gorman : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those organisations that most frequently apply on behalf of tenants' organisations for grants to assist in the investigation of tenants' choice, those organisations which are paid to undertake such investigation or assist therewith ; and how much has been paid to each such organisation in total for these and allied purposes, for the most recent period for which figures are available.

Mr. Baldry : This is a matter for the Housing Corporation rather than for my Department. I have therefore asked the corporation to reply to the hon. Member direct.

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Matlock-Hexham Bridleway

Ms Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what objections have been received to the Matlock to Hexham bridleway ; if he will place copies in the Library ; and when he expects the Matlock to Hexham bridleway to open.

Mr. Maclean : My Department has received over 300 representations about the Countryside Commission's proposal for the Pennine bridleway, the majority in favour of the route. Those who object do so mainly out of concern for conservation, wildlife and farming interests, and the impact on isolated rural areas. It is not proposed to put copies of this correspondence in the Library. The Secretary of State is now awaiting a further submission from the commission, having asked in May 1992 for further information on these and other points, before deciding whether to approve the proposal.

Government Service (Cars)

Dr. Wright : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many Government employees are provided with (a) a car, (b) a driver ; and if he will list them.

Mr. Baldry : This information is not available centrally and would have to be provided by individual Departments. In respect of the Government car service, cars and drivers are made available, as requested, to first permanent secretaries and certain chief executives, normally at permanent secretary level.

Dr. Wright : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total cost of the Government car service for the last year for which figures are available ; and what was the cost in 1979.

Mr. Baldry : The total cost of the Government car service in 1991-92 was £7.1 million. The Government car service financial records in 1979 are no longer available.

Dr. Wright : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many members of the Government are provided with a car and driver service ; and if he will list them.

Mr. Baldry : All members of the Government are entitled to the use of an official car and driver. The majority of Government Ministers use the facilities of the Government car service.

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