| Previous Section | Home Page |
Column 126
ATTORNEY-GENERAL
European Court of Justice
Dr. Godman : To ask the Attorney-General, pursuant to his answer of 11 March, Official Report , column 650 , if he will list the rulings sought by courts as provided in article 177 of the treaty of Rome and the decision given by the court in each case.
The Attorney-General : Details of the cases referred to the European Court of Justice under article 177 by each of the named courts in the last five years are set out in the table.
Column 125
Number of the Case |Name of the Case |White Paper
|reference/Law
|Report (if
|available)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A. Magistrates Courts
9 references.
C 118/88 |Suffolk Coastal District Council v. Nottcutts Garden Centres Ltd. |Cm. 467
C 134/88 |Solicitor for Mansfield District Council v. Payless DIY Ltd. |Cm. 467
C 145/88 |Torfaen Borough Council v. B & Q plc |Cm. 1023/ (1989) ECR 3851
C 166/88 |The City of Wakefield Metropolitan District Council v. B & Q plc |Cm. 467
C 195/88 |Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council v. B & Q plc |Cm. 641
C 232/88 |Derry City Council v. Hampden Homecare plc |Cm. 641
C 291/88 |Torfaen Borough Council v. Texas Homecare Ltd. |Cm. 801
C 304/90 |Reading Borough Council v. Payless DIY Ltd. and Others |White Paper not yet published
C 116/91 |Licensing Authority South Eastern Traffic Area v. British Gas plc |Cm. 2065/ (1992) 3 CMLR 65
B. Crown Court
4 references.
C 23/89 |Quietlynn Limited v. Southend Borough Council |Cm. 801/ (1990) ECR 3059
C38/90 |R. v. Thomas Edward Lomas |Cm. 1234/ (1992) 2 CMLR 653
C 151/90 |R. v. Fletcher Prichard and North Riding Lamb Limited |Cm. 2065
C 116/92 |Huyton Wilson and Charlton v. Crown Prosecution Service |White Paper not yet published
C. High Court
22 references.
C 126/88 |The Boots Company plc v. Her Majesty's Commissioners of Customs and Excise |Cm. 1234
C 174/88 |R. v. Dairy Produce Quota Tribunal ex parte Hall and Sons (Dairy Farmers) Ltd. |Cm. 1234
C 306/88 |Rochdale Borough Council v. Anders |Cm. 2065
C 331/88 |R. v. Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, and Secretary of State for Health ex parte FEDESA|Cm. 1457/ (1990) ECR 4023
C 372/88 |MMB v. Cricket St. Thomas Estate |Cm. 1234/ (1990) 2 CMLR 800
C 71/89 and
C 72/89 |R. v. IBAP ex parte BEOCO and Others |Cm. 1457
C 221/89 |R. v. Secretary of State for Transport ex parte Factortame Ltd. and Others |Cm. 1857/ (1991) 3 CMLR 589
C 292/89 |R. v. IAT ex parte Antonissen |Cm. 1657/ (1991) 2 CMLR 373
C 350/89 |Sheptonhurst Ltd. v. Newham London Borough Council |Cm. 1657/ (1991) 3 CMLR 463
C 84/90 |R. v. Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food ex parte J. J. Dent and another |Cm. 2065/ (1992) 2 CMLR 597
C 243/90
C 9/91 |R. v. Secretary of State for Social Security ex parte EOC |Cm. 2065
C 200/91 |Coloroll Pension Trustees Ltd. v. J. R. Russell and Others |Cm. 2065
C 321/91 |R. v. Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce ex parte Tara Meat Packers Ltd. |Cm. 2065
C 2/92 |R. v. Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food |Cm. 2065
C 11/92 |R. v. Secretary of State for Health ex parte Gallaher Ltd. and Others |Cm. 2065
C 124/92 |An Board Bainne Co-Operative Ltd. and Another v. IBAP |White Paper not yet published
C 128/92 |H. J. Banks and Co. Ltd. v. British Coal Corporation
C 275/92 |Her Majesty's Customs and Excise v. Gerhart and Jorg Schindler |White Paper not yet published
C 432/92 |R. v. Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food ex parte S. P. Anastasious Ltd. and Others
D. Court of Appeal
10 references
C 262/88 |Barber v. Guardian Royal Exchange |Cm. 1234/ (1990) 2 CMLR 513
C 301/88 |R. v. IBAP ex parte Fish Producers Organisation |Cm. 1457/ (1990) ECR 3803
C 15/90 |D. M. Middleburgh v. Chief Adjudication Officer |Cm. 1857/ (1992) 1 CMLR
C 1991/90 |Generics (UK) Ltd. and Another v. Smith Kline and French Laboratories Ltd. |White Paper not yet published
C 63/91 |Sonia Jackson v. Chief Adjudication Officer |White Paper not yet published
C 64/91 |Patricia Cresswell v. Chief Adjudication Officer |White Paper not yet published
C 127/92 |Dr. Enderby v. Frenchay Health Authority (1) and Secretary of State for Health (2) |White Paper not yet published
C 132/92 |Mrs. F. M. Roberts v. Birds Eye Walls Ltd. |White Paper not yet published
C 406/92 |The Owners of Cargo lately laden on board the ship "Tatry" v. The Owners of the Ship "Maciej Rataj"
C 410/92 |Elsie Rita Johnson v. Chief Adjudication Officer
E. House of Lords
5 references
C 188/89 |Foster and Others v. British Gas plc |Cm. 1457/ (1990) ECR 3313
C 213/89 |R. v. Secretary of State for Transport ex parte Factortame Limited and Others |Cm. 1234
C 169/91 |Stoke and Norwich City Councils v. B & Q plc |Cm. 1857
C 271/91 |Her Majesty's Marshall v. Southampton and South West Hampshire Area Health Authority |Cm. 1857
C 328/91 |R. v. Secretary of State for Social Security ex parte Thomas and Others |Cm. 2065
Mr. Ghazanfer Ali
Mr. Madden : To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 15 March, Official Report , column 34 , what information he has received about the outcome of court proceedings in Pakistan concerning Mr. Ghazanfer Ali.
The Prime Minister : The two murder charges facing Mr. Ghanzanfer Ali were heard on 13 and 14 March. Both cases were adjourned until 8 and 12 April. We shall continue to watch developments.
Column 128
World Forestry Organisation
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Prime Minister what representation he has had from Professor Ingvar Carlsson, former Prime Minister of Sweden, on the establishment of a world forestry organisation ; and if he will make a statement.
The Prime Minister : None. Ambassador Ola Ullsten announced at the recent global forestry conference in Indonesia an initiative to establish a world commission on forestry and sustainable development. The Ministers concerned know of the initiative and expect to receive more information about it shortly.
Column 129
Equal Opportunities
Mr. Janner : To ask the Prime Minister what steps he has taken to recruit women, members of ethnic minorities and disabled people respectively in top grades of employment at the Cabinet Office.
The Prime Minister : Recruits to the senior grades, as to any grade in the civil service, are selected on merit on the basis of fair and open competition, unless one of the exceptions permitted under the Civil Service Order in Council 1991 applies. Various steps have been taken by the civil service commissioners to aid recruitment from all sectors of the community, including : extending links with institutions of higher education ; equal opportunities training for all those involved in selection ; using validated section procedures.
The Cabinet office, which has signed up domestically to Opportunity 2000, is working towards achieving the civil service-wide benchmark of increasing the proportion of women in the top three grades to 15 per cent. or more by the year 2000. The Department continually seeks to encourage the employment of people from the enthnic minorities and those with disabilities.
Mr. Janner : To ask the Prime Minister when the Cabinet Office last conducted surveys of (a) ethnic origins and (b) the number women among its employees ; when it next plans to do so ; and whether he will make a statement.
The Prime Minister : A survey of the ethnic origins of all non- industrial civil servants was completed in 1988. The Cabinet Office introduced a computerised personnel database in 1991. All staff were given the opportunity to update their own entries, which include sections on ethnic origins. All new staff are given the opportunity to complete an ethnic monitoring questionnaire. There are no firm plans to conduct further surveys. The sex of employees is identified in staff records.
Engagements
Sir Peter Tapsell : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 30 March.
Mr. Harry Greenway : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 30 March.
The Prime Minister : This morning, I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in to the House, I shall be having further meetings later today.
ENVIRONMENT
Housing Associations
Mr. Harry Greenway : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many houses and flats have been built by housing associations in the London borough of Ealing, what were the associations concerned, the locations and the cost at 1993 prices in each of the past 10 years ; how many future such developments are planned and at what locations and cost ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Baldry : My Department does not keep the detailed records which would allow me to answer this question. I have referred it to the Housing Corporation and asked it to reply direct to the hon. Member.
Column 130
Local Government Finance
Mr. Nicholls : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those local authorities in England which are debt free.
Mr. Squire : Returns to the Department indicate that the following local authorities are debt-free for the purposes of the capital control system. The list shows authorities which had no money outstanding by way of longer-term borrowing at 31 December 1992, and a nil or negative credit ceiling at 31 March 1992.
Bedford
Bracknell Forest
Broadland
Chiltern
Christchurch
City of London
Dorset
Mid Sussex
Ryedale
St. Edmundsbury
Sevenoaks
South Bucks
Swale
Tunbridge Wells
West Sussex
Avon and Somerset Police Authority
Devon and Cornwall Policy Authority
Peak Park Planning Board
Unitary Development Plans
Mr. Gapes : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment for which local authorities in London and the south-east of England unitary development plans (a) have been completed, (b) have not been completed, (c) are currently out to consultation and (d) are currently subject to public inquiry ; and in respect of which plans he has issued his report.
Mr. Baldry : The London borough of Barnet adopted its unitary development plan in November 1991, and the London borough of Havering is due to adopt its UDP on 31 March 1993. All other London boroughs are currently preparing UDPs. Outside London, district authorities in the south -east of England do not prepare UDPs, but are required to prepare district- wide local plans.
UDPs for the London boroughs of Hillingdon, Newham, Camden and Croydon are at consultation stage ; those for the London boroughs of Barking, Merton, Brent, Bexley, Tower Hamlets, Lambeth, Haringey and Lewisham are on deposit for public inspection.
The London boroughs of Hounslow, Kensington and Chelsea, Wandsworth, Richmond and Kingston are currently holding public inquiries into objections to their UDPs ; the following London boroughs have completed their public inquiries : Islington, Redbridge, Sutton, Enfield, Southwark, Bromley, Greenwich, the City of London, Waltham Forest, the City of Westminster, Harrow, Hammersmith and Fulham, Hackney and Ealing.
Following a public inquiry, the inspector makes his recommendations direct to the local authority. The Secretary of State does not issue reports in respect of development plans.
Column 131
Council Tax
Mr Llwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the amounts of council tax transitional relief granted to each (a) London borough, (b) other metropolitan boroughs and (c) other local authorities in England ; and what is the amount of transitional relief as a percentage of the total transitional relief granted.
Mr. Squire : Authorities have been invited to submit claims for council tax transitional reduction scheme grant for 1993-94. We have no estimates of the amount of each authority's grant entitlement.
Birds
Mr. Chris Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects the Joint Nature Conservancy Council inventory of marine sites of importance to birds to be produced.
Mr. Maclean : At present the Joint Nature Conservation Committee has no plans to produce such an inventory. The former Nature Conservancy Council published survey results of the most important areas for seabirds in the North sea and west of Britain, in 1987 and 1990 respectively. The JNCC's remaining survey work in the English channel and south-west approaches is about to be completed.
Mr. Chris Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how he intends to safeguard the wider coastal and marine environment under the EC habitats and species directive.
Mr. Maclean : The Government's proposals for implementing the EC habitats and species directive will be issued in due course.
Coastal Zones
Mr. Chris Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action is being taken by his officials to pursue the proposed EC directive on coastal zone planning and management.
Mr. Maclean : At present, the Commission has not published a proposed directive on coastal zone planning. The Government will take an active part in seeking to ensure that any proposals that come forward are workable and effective.
Rented Property
Mrs. Jane Kennedy : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to introduce legislation that requires landlords to ensure regular servicing of appliances fitted within their properties ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Baldry : The Housing (Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation) Regulations 1990 require managers of houses in multiple occupation to observe proper standards of management and to keep existing facilities in good repair. These facilities include gas and electric appliances, and sanitary and cooking facilities. Failure to comply with the regulations is a criminal offence.
Private landlords also have certain statutory obligations to carry out repairs and maintenance under the
Column 132
Landlord and Tenant Act 1985. These include ensuring that the installations for the supply of gas and electricity and for space and water heating are kept in proper working order.Homelessness
Ms Glenda Jackson : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what statutory responsibility local authorities have to offer homeless families a choice in the type of temporary accommodation they are offered.
Mr. Baldry : Local authorities have no statutory responsibility to offer a choice of temporary accommodation ; this is a matter for their discretion in the light of local circumstances.
Mrs. Roche : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what provision he is making for the homeless people about to be evicted from the cold weather shelters ; and how many beds are currently provided by those shelters.
Mr. Baldry : Under the Government's o96 million rough sleepers initiative, we have provided funding of o1.5 million for this year's winter shelter programme, which at its height provided 400 extra bedspaces in nine winter shelters in central London. The purpose of the winter shelter programme was only to provide shelter for people in central London who would otherwise sleep rough over the winter months. The shelters will close at the end of March.
Currently, around 170 of the 400 places are still in use ; over 50 of these people have accepted offers of other accommodation, and the voluntary organisations running the shelters are continuing to help find alternative accommodation for those that remain. In doing so, they will be assisted by two new hostels funded under the RSI which opened this month, and which will provide a further 100 bed spaces ; by vacancies in other London hostels ; and by an estimated 100 units of permanent accommodation provided under the RSI becoming available in the last two weeks of March.
East Thames Corridor
Mr. Vaz : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total public funding being committed to his plans to encourage development on the east Thames corridor.
Mr. Baldry : The Government's preferred approach to the east Thames corridor is to put in place a planning framework which will seek to maximise the development benefits of public investment in infrastructure and urban regeneration over the next 20 years. It is not possible to estimate the total of public expenditure in the area over that period.
Standard Spending Assessments
Mr. William O'Brien : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what effect the census validation survey has on the distribution of the standard spending assessments of population estimates for local authorities ; and if he will make a statement ; (2) what assessment he has made of the effect on the level of grant through the standard spending assessment
Column 133
formula population estimates to metropolitan district authorities of the under-enumeration formulas ; and if he will make a statement.Mr. Squire : The effect of the census validation survey has been to ensure that the mid-1991 population figures produced by the registrar general for use in the calculation of standard spending assessments are as accurate as possible.
We have looked most carefully at the mid-1991 population figures based on the 1991 census results, given their implications for standard spending assessments and revenue support grant entitlements. We are satisfied that the methods the registrar general has employed to produce these estimates, particularly in relation to the allocation of census under-enumeration, are the most appropriate in the circumstances and do not disadvantage metropolitan or any other class of authorities.
Mr. William O'Brien : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he intends to take to adjust the standard spending assessments population estimates for Leeds and Wakefield because of the under-enumeration following the OPCS survey ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Squire : The provisional mid-1991 population figures used in the calculation of the 1993-94 standard spending assessments already include allowances for the under-enumeration identified from the OPCS census validation survey.
Mr. William O'Brien : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what criteria he uses to allocate under-enumerations of population to local authorities for standard spending assessment purposes ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Squire : It is the registrar general who is responsible for preparing the population figures used in the calculation of standard spending assessments, including the formulation of criteria for allocating estimates of under-enumeration to local authority areas. He has set out the methods used to compile his figures in the OPCS monitor PP1 92/1, a copy of which is in the Library.
Landfill
Mr. Nigel Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will place in the Library a copy of the preliminary study prepared by Cooper and Lybrand on the subject of a levy on landfills and licensed rubbish dumps.
Mr. Maclean : A copy of the report "Landfill Costs and Prices : Correcting Possible Market Distortions" by Coopers and Lybrand was placed in the Library of the House on 9 February 1993.
Urban Programme
Mr. David Evans : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what resources will be made available for the urban programme in 1993-94 ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Squire : I am pleased to announce a substantial urban programme funding package for 1993-94. Allocations to the 57 urban programme authorities in
Column 134
England for 1993-94 total o163 million. These resources will fund projects which have been approved in this and previous financial years. The allocations are set out in the table.An additional o20 million is being provided for urban partnership fund projects as part of the new capital partnership programme. Successful project bids under this initiative were announced by my right hon. and learned Friend, on 12 February 1993 [ Official Report columns 834- 35]. Together with the o232 million being made available for city challenge, resources will rise by o90 million to o408 million in 1993-94.
Urban programme allocation 1993-94
|£ million
-------------------------------------------
Newcastle |5.340
Gateshead |5.272
Hartlepool |1.309
Langbaurgh |1.331
Middlesbrough |3.325
North Tyneside |2.231
South Tyneside |3.158
Stockton |1.280
Sunderland |3.317
Manchester |9.048
Salford |4.529
Blackburn |2.115
Bolton |2.253
Burnley |1.396
Oldham |2.554
Preston |1.210
Rochdale |2.475
Wigan |1.704
Liverpool |12.364
Halton |0.968
Knowsley |2.615
St. Helens |1.185
Sefton |1.000
Wirral |2.340
Birmingham |14.847
Coventry |3.065
Dudley |1.030
Sandwell |3.148
Walsall |1.051
Wolverhampton |3.522
The Wrekin |0.634
Derby |0.837
Leicester |3.143
Nottingham |3.530
Barnsley |1.342
Bradford |3.002
Doncaster |1.288
Hull |3.265
Kirklees |0.724
Leeds |3.473
Rotherham |1.486
Sheffield |3.940
Hackney |3.425
Islington |5.873
Lambeth |5.863
Brent |1.436
Greenwich |1.112
Hammersmith and Fulham |1.707
Haringey |2.012
Kensington and Chelsea |1.202
Lewisham |1.530
Newham |1.974
Southwark |1.826
Tower Hamlets |3.083
Wandsworth |2.110
Bristol |1.109
Plymouth |0.925
|-------
Total |162.834
Greater London Council
Mr. Dowd : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many bodies, elected or appointed institutions or other groups now administer the responsibilities previously discharged under the auspices of the Greater London council ; and if he will list the function of each.
Mr. Baldry [holding answer 26 March 1993] : The responsibilities of the Greater London council were transferred to a number of existing or new successor authorities on 1 April 1986. The London residuary body issued in 1987 a booklet entitled "London Now" summarising in general terms which services and duties went to which authorities. I have arranged for a copy of the booklet to be deposited in the Library. On 1 April 1990 each inner London council became the local education authority for its area on abolition of the Inner London education authority. Functions inherited by the LRB as a consequence of the abolition of the GLC and of the ILEA and subsequently disposed of by them are reported in the LRB's annual reports which are laid before Parliament, copies of which are in the Library.
Hedgerows
Mr. Chris Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many agreements have so far been entered into under the hedgerow incentive scheme ; what is the total length of hedgerow involved and the amount of money involved ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Maclean [holding answer 26 March 1992] : As at 26 March 1993, 481 agreements had been made under the scheme since it was launched in July 1992, as a result of which some 640 km of hedgerow will be restored over the next five years. I will write to the hon. Member with regard to the anticipated cost of these works.
Palm House, Sefton Park
Mr. Alton : To ask the Secretary of State for the environment when he will meet members of the action committee to save the palm house in Sefton park ; what funds are available for the continued refurbishment of the palm house ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Robin Squire [holding answer 29 March 1993] : The hon. Member will remember, that I wrote to him in November of last year, agreeing to meet with himself, Liverpool city council and members of the save the palm house committee. Since then, an urban programme grant has been approved in January 1993 and has secured the safety of the palm house structure and provided Liverpool city council with an opportunity to explore further options for the long-term future of the building and its environs.
With this in mind, the city council's planning and development services department has proposals to establish a joint
council/voluntary sector action committee
Column 136
of its own. However, this is at a preliminary stage and subject to approval by the city council. Once this is formalised, a meeting can then be arranged.Toxic Waste Imports
Mr. Murphy : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will consider holding an inquiry into the commercial trade in toxic waste with particular reference to trade between Germany and the United Kingdom ;
(2) what representations he is making to the European Commission regarding the import of toxic waste going from Germany to the ReChem plant in Pontypool ;
(3) if he will consider preventing the import of toxic waste from Germany to the ReChem plant at Pontypool ;
(4) what ports in the United Kingdom will handle the proposed imports of toxic waste from Germany destined for the ReChem plant in Pontypool.
Mr. Maclean [holding answer 29 March 1993] : I see no need for such an inquiry. The UK Government have asked the German Government to ban the proposed shipment of hazardous waste from Hamburg. The UK's policy of self-sufficiency in final disposal for developed countries has been incorporated into the EC waste shipments regulation coming into operation in May 1994. I understand that the proposed shipment would be handled at Hull.
WALES
Welsh Development Agency
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what statutory provisions governs the responsibility of the Welsh Development Agency in respect of the conservation of flora, fauna, landscape and physiographical features.
Mr. David Hunt : The agency is subject to the same provisions as apply to other public bodies.
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) which members of the Welsh Development Agency since 1975 were appointed because of their experience of and capacity in matters relating to the environment ;
(2) if he will list the existing members of the Welsh Development Agency showing which have experience of, and have shown capacity in, industry, commerce, banking, accountancy, finance, the organisation of representation of workers, administration, local government and matters relating to the environment respectively.
Mr. David Hunt : Appointments to the board of the agency are made on the basis of an individual's overall experience and expertise and having regard to the terms of the Welsh Development Agency Act 1975. Such appointments are rarely dependent on a single attribute. Each of the current members of the board brings a wide range of skills and expertise to the agency. Current membership is as follows :
Dr. Gwyn Jones-- Chairman
Dr. Roy Bichan-- Deputy Chairman
Sir Donald Walters
Mr. E. Glyn Davies
Mr Richard Brewster
Mr. John Foley MBE
Mr. David Malpas
Dr. Pamela Kirby
Mr. Philip Head -- Chief Executive
| Next Section
| Home Page |