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Registered disabled people Grade |Number |Percentage ---------------------------------------------------- Grades 1-5 |- |- Grade 6 |2 |2 Grade 7 |1 |0.6 Departmental Total |38 |1.6 My Department also employs several unregistered disabled people. Note: 1 Part-time staff count as one unit 2 Includes equivalent and professional grades 3 Includes Agency and industrial staff
Mr. Janner : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he has taken to recruit women, members of ethnic minorities and disabled people, respectively, in top grades of employment at his Department.
Mr. David Hunt : Most recruitment into senior grades in my Department is undertaken by the Recruitment and Assessment Services Agency acting on behalf of the civil service commissioners. Recruits to senior grades 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. The commissioners have taken various steps to aid recruitment from all sectors of the community including extending links with higher education establishments to attract a wider range of applicants and using validated selection procedures. They also encourage equal opportunities training for those involved in selection.
Heads of the Valleys (Unitary Authority)
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answers of 16 March to the hon. Member for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney (Mr.
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Rowlands), Official Report, columns 186-87, how many and what proportion of the responses to which he refers were in favour of a unitary authority for the Heads of the Valleys ; and if he will make copies of all responses received available in public libraries in Cardiff, Blaenau Gwent, Merthyr Tydfil, Rymney, Darran Valley and New Tredegar.Mr. David Hunt : Following my statement on 3 March 1992 I received 252 written representations about possible unitary authority boundaries in the valleys. Of these, one referred to the possibility of a heads of the valley authority. This proposal emerged primarily from my consideration of the other conflicting views I had received and my discussion of these with interested parties. Copies of the responses received to the earlier consultations are available for inspection in the Libraries of both Houses of Parliament and, upon request, at the Welsh Office in Cardiff.
Disability
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much additional funding has been made available to local authorities in Wales in real terms each year since the coming into force of the Disabled Person Act 1986 to enable them to carry out its provisions.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : The annual local authority revenue and capital settlements cover all local authority expenditure. It is for individual authorities to decide how to apportion those resources between and within services in accordance with their statutory obligations, including those arising under this Act, and their own priorities.
Dental Care
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was (a) the number of general dental practitioners and (b) the number of general dental practitioners per 1,000 of the population in each Welsh health authority area since 1986.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : The information requested is given in the following tables :
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General Dental Practitioners per 1,000
population<1>
|1986|1987|1988|1989|1990|1991
---------------------------------------------------
Clwyd |0.22|0.24|0.24|0.26|0.27|0.25
Dyfed |0.24|0.26|0.26|0.27|0.28|0.29
Gwent |0.24|0.26|0.26|0.28|0.28|0.31
Gwynedd |0.28|0.28|0.26|0.27|0.29|0.27
Mid Glamorgan |0.23|0.24|0.24|0.25|0.25|0.23
Powys |0.28|0.30|0.30|0.29|0.29|0.30
South Glamorgan |0.32|0.32|0.32|0.33|0.32|0.32
West Glamorgan |0.33|0.34|0.37|0.37|0.37|0.36
<1> General Dental Practitioners at 30 September
and mid year estimates of population.
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General Dental Practitioners per 1,000
population<1>
|1986|1987|1988|1989|1990|1991
---------------------------------------------------
Clwyd |0.22|0.24|0.24|0.26|0.27|0.25
Dyfed |0.24|0.26|0.26|0.27|0.28|0.29
Gwent |0.24|0.26|0.26|0.28|0.28|0.31
Gwynedd |0.28|0.28|0.26|0.27|0.29|0.27
Mid Glamorgan |0.23|0.24|0.24|0.25|0.25|0.23
Powys |0.28|0.30|0.30|0.29|0.29|0.30
South Glamorgan |0.32|0.32|0.32|0.33|0.32|0.32
West Glamorgan |0.33|0.34|0.37|0.37|0.37|0.36
<1> General Dental Practitioners at 30 September
and mid year estimates of population.
Estimates of population are provisional for 1991 and not yet available for 1992.
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many courses of dental treatment under the national health service were undertaken in each Welsh health authority area per 1,000 of the population in each year since 1986.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : The information is not readily available and I will write to the hon. Gentleman as soon as possible.
Employment Projects
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many unemployed people have taken part in the voluntary projects programme in Wales each year since 1986-87.
Mr. David Hunt : The voluntary projects programme (VPP) ceased in 1988 when it was subsumed by employment training.
Details of the number of participants are available only for 1987-88 when 11,000 participated in the scheme on 24 projects.
Welsh Language
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of school children in each local authority area in Wales does not receive Welsh language lessons.
Sir Wyn Roberts : The percentages of pupils who are not taught Welsh in maintained primary and secondary schools are given in the following tables.
Table 2. Secondary schools<1><2>
|Percentage<1>
--------------------------------------------
Clwyd |28.5
Dyfed |19.4
Gwent |82.8
Gwynedd |1.2
Mid Glamorgan |30.4
Powys |30.6
South Glamorgan |39.2
West Glamorgan |30.0
<1>At September 1991.
<2>Includes Grant maintained schools.
Table 2. Secondary schools<1><2>
|Percentage<1>
--------------------------------------------
Clwyd |28.5
Dyfed |19.4
Gwent |82.8
Gwynedd |1.2
Mid Glamorgan |30.4
Powys |30.6
South Glamorgan |39.2
West Glamorgan |30.0
<1>At September 1991.
<2>Includes Grant maintained schools.
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Domestic Violence
Mr. Llwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will make it his policy to develop a national policy for the provision of refuges and support services to women and children who are the victims of domestic violence.
Mr. Donald Anderson : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of whether the number of women's refuges in Wales is sufficient for the demand ; and if he will consider further funding.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : The Government are already supporting such provision and services. In 1992-93 the Welsh Office provided over £235,000 to Welsh Women's Aid and over £438,000 for projects in individual refuges and advice centres.
Mr. Donald Anderson : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many refuges for women fleeing from domestic violence are available in Wales ; and what is their total capacity.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : This information is not held centrally.
Foreign Language Teaching
Mr. Win Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many primary schools offer a language, other than English and Wales to their pupils and to what extent the numbers have varied over the last 10 years.
Sir Wyn Roberts : Information on the number of primary schools offering a language other than English and Welsh to their pupils is not collected centrally.
Sealand Estate
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will include the Sealand estate, Deeside, in the estate partnership initiative.
Mr. David Hunt : I shall give careful consideration to all applications I receive by 1 June for support under this programme during the coming financial year. Estate Partnership is designed to address problems in the local authority stock.
F
University Colleges
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what response he has made to the proposals set out in the report, "The case for University Colleges," prepared by the Standing Conference of Principals, a copy of which has been sent to him.
Sir Wyn Roberts : I have received a copy of the report from the Standing Conference of Principals. I will be considering with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education how to respond to the report.
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Stoneleigh Food Fair
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what support has been provided by his Department to Welsh food producers to exhibit their produce at the Stoneleigh food fair on 31 March.
Mr. David Hunt : Welsh Food Promotions Ltd., a company established on my initiative and partly funded by the Welsh Development Agency, the Development Board for Rural Wales and the Wales tourist board, will be at Stoneleigh in support of individual Welsh food producers.
Class Sizes
Mr. Win Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will issue advice to schools on best practice in relation to class size in primary and secondary schools.
Sir Wyn Roberts : This is a matter for determination by school governors and head teachers in the light of local circumstances.
Welsh Centre for International Affairs
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he last paid a visit to the Welsh centre for international affairs in Cardiff ; and what future plans he has to make a visit.
Mr. David Hunt : Although I have met the director of the Welsh Centre for International Affairs twice, I have not visited the centre and have no present plans to do so.
Public Bodies
Mr. Martyn Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list all the appointed bodies within Wales performing delegated Government functions.
Mr. David Hunt : Executive, advisory and NHS bodies and tribunals in Wales all have roles in the process of government and therefore to a greater or lesser extent have some functions of government delegated to them. These bodies are set out in "Public Bodies 1992" a copy of which is in the Library of the House.
I also refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Bridgend (Mr. Griffiths) on 23 March 1993 at column 549-50 listing the current and complete list of public bodies to which I make appointments.
Brussels
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he next proposes to visit Brussels.
Civil Servants
Mr. Win Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list by Department the numbers of civil servants employed in Swansea.
Mr. David Hunt : The number of civil servants currently employed by my Department in Swansea is 10. Information on the number of staff in other Government Departments and agencies in particular locations in Wales is not held by my Department, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
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Mr. Win Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list by Department and location the numbers of civil service jobs which have been relocated to or created in South Wales since 1979.
Mr. David Hunt : The information requested is not held by my Department.
Key Stage 3 Tests
Mr. Win Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received on the difficulties of informing parents of the assessment of their children at key stage 3 of the national curriculum before the end of the summer term.
Sir Wyn Roberts : Formal representations about this year's key stage 3 reporting arrangements have not been received. My officials have, however, established a small working group comprising representatives of the Welsh Joint Education Committee, local education authorities and the School Examinations and Assessment Council to develop the most efficient method of providing schools in Wales with the national curriculum assessment results to be used for reporting purposes.
Hill Livestock Farmers
Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to bring forward measures to secure that hill livestock producers do not suffer any penalty for failing to meet the threshold of yearling ewes per flock within the current calendar year.
Mr. David Hunt : The hill livestock compensatory allowances scheme rules have always required a reasonable element of shearlings in flocks qualifying for the highest rate of allowance. Where this rule is breached without good reason we shall continue to impose penalties.
European Commission
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 23 March, Official Report, column 549, how many of those who have completed their secondment to the European Commission are still employed by his Department.
Badger Setts
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the number of badger setts, by county, closed or otherwise, seriously interfered with by or under licence from his Department's officials in each month from October 1991.
Mr. David Hunt : The information requested is as follows :
Month |Number of setts |County -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- November 1991 |2 |Gwynedd March 1992 |1 |Dyfed May 1992 |1 |Powys June 1992 |1 |Gwynedd July 1992 |3 |Gwent, Clwyd and Powys September 1992 |2 |Powys and Clwyd October 1992 |2 |Dyfed and Powys November 1992 |2 |Dyfed and Powys December 1992 |1 |Powys January 1993 |2 |Gwynedd and Powys March 1993 |2 |Clwyd and Gwent
Farming Friends Scheme
Mr. Alex Carlile : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make funds available for a farming friends scheme in Wales to help farmers with psychological and social problems ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. David Hunt : I have no plans to do so, but a reduction in these problems will be an important health gain target for health authorities.
NORTHERN IRELAND
Housing Associations
Mr. McGrady : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many dwellings have been completed by the housing associations in Northern Ireland in each year since 1 April 1982 to 31 March 1992.
Mr. Atkins : The number of dwellings completed by registered housing associations is as follows :
Year |Newbuild |Rehabilitation|Total --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1982-83 |557 |243 |800 1983-84 |576 |244 |820 1984-85 |646 |368 |1,014 1985-86 |777 |271 |1,048 1986-87 |314 |390 |704 1987-88 |694 |330 |1,024 1988-89 |764 |110 |874 1989-90 |563 |74 |637 1990-91 |533 |249 |782 1991-92 |838 |94 |932
Mr. McGrady : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many tenants allocated houses with the housing associations come from the Housing Executive waiting list ; and, of these, how many were on the priority waiting list and non-priority waiting list.
Mr. Atkins : This information is not held in the format requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. McGrady : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the names of the registered housing associations in Northern Ireland ; what was the date of registration of each association ; and what are the numbers of staff currently employed by each association in respect of (i) management, (ii)
administration/clerical, (iii) development, (iv) housing and (v) management/maintenance.
Mr. Atkins : The names and registration dates of each registered housing association, are set out in the table. Information on staffing in the form requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
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Association |Date registered with
|DOE (NI)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Abbeyfield NI Development Society Limited |22 June 1981
Ballymacarrett Housing Association Limited |21 February 1979
Ballynafeigh Housing Association Limited |3 February 1977
Baptist Union of Ireland Housing Association Limited |29 October 1982
Belfast Community Housing Association Limited |12 October 1977
Belfast Improved Houses Limited |20 January 1977
Ben Madigan Housing Association Limited |27 July 1978
Botanic Housing Association Limited |31 January 1977
Broadway Housing Association Limited |16 November 1979
Church of Ireland Housing Association (NI) Limited |16 September 1977
Clonard Housing Association Limited |21 April 1978
Connswater Housing Association Limited |4 March 1977
Coral Crescent Housing Association Limited |26 October 1978
Covenanter Residential Association Limited |23 February 1977
Craigavon and District Housing Association Limited |19 September 1979
Craigowen Housing Association Limited |14 October 1977
Derry Housing Association Limited |24 August 1977
Donacloney Housing Association Limited |16 August 1977
Down and Connor Housing Association Limited |2 July 1987
Dungannon and District Housing Association Limited |24 March 1977
Flax Housing Association Limited |12 February 1987
Fold Housing Association Limited |14 December 1976
Gosford Housing Association (Armagh) Limited |5 December 1977
Grove Housing Association Limited |5 May 1977
Habinteg Housing Association (Ulster) Limited |24 May 1977
Hearth |10 February 1978
Larne and District Housing Association Limited |4 July 1978
Lisnagarvey Housing Association Limited |5 August 1977
Malone Housing Association Limited |28 February 1980
Masonic Housing Association (NI) Limited |13 May 1977
Newington Housing Association (1975) Limited |27 April 1977
Northern Ireland Co-ownership Housing Association Limited |11 April 1978
North Belfast Mission Housing Society Limited |22 February 1979
Oaklee Housing Association Limited |4 November 1991
Open Door Housing Association (NI) Limited |31 July 1978
Presbyterian Housing Association (NI) Limited |23 February 1977
Royal British Legion Housing Association (NI) Limited |4 March 1977
Rural Housing Association Limited |19 March 1992
St Matthews Housing Association Limited |8 June 1977
Students Housing Association Co-op Limited |27 September 1977
Tennent Street District Housing Association Limited |8 May 1979
Triangle Women's Housing Association Limited |20 March 1978
Ulidia Housing Association Limited |10 March 1978
Ulster Homemaker Limited |30 August 1984
Willowfield Parish Church Housing Association Limited |27 April 1977
Woodvale and Shankill Housing Association Limited |3 May 1977
Mr. McGrady : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish the selection schemes of each registered housing association ; and if he will list the
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reports produced by registered housing associations describing and measuring the need which they are seeking to address.Mr. Atkins : Copies of the selection scheme approved by the Department of the Environment (NI) for each association have been placed in the Library.
The tenants guarantee, introduced in December 1992, requires associations to make available from 1 April 1993 information on the allocation of accommodation, application procedures for tenancies and policies and procedures for deciding on priority between applicants. Associations will also be required to prepare annual summaries of their letting activities which will include a report on the number and types of lettings to different types of applicant. These summaries will be made available to inquirers.
Mr. McGrady : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what has been the budgetary allocation to housing associations in each year since 1 April 1982 to 31 March 1992 ; and how much of the allocation in each year has been devoted to new build.
Mr. Atkins : Total allocation to housing associations, including the Northern Ireland Co-ownership Housing Association, were :
|HAs (excluding|NICHA |Total
|NICHA)
|£000 |£000 |£000
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
1982-83 |21,000 |8,500 |29,500
1983-84 |23,000 |15,600 |38,600
1984-85 |25,800 |14,400 |40,200
1985-86 |27,600 |12,000 |39,600
1986-87 |29,800 |11,500 |41,300
1987-88 |30,400 |13,000 |43,400
1988-89 |32,000 |13,400 |45,400
1989-90 |29,200 |8,700 |37,900
1990-91 |28,200 |8,600 |36,800
1991-92 |33,800 |6,400 |40,200
The new-build element of housing association expenditure, excluding NICHA, in 1990-91 and 1991-92 was £21.9 million and £28.3 million respectively. Information on capital funding to housing associations for previous years is not available on a basis which distinguishes new build from other types of expenditure.
Mr. McGrady : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what guidelines have been issued to housing associations for the selection of tenants.
Mr. Atkins : In the circular issued to all registered housing associations on 24 July 1979 the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland advised associations of the guidelines to be followed in tenant selection. A copy of the circular has been placed in the Library. The guidelines are currently under review.
Mr. McGrady : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the numbers and types of dwellings each housing association has constructed under the terms of the Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 1976 during each financial year since 1976-77.
Mr. Atkins : A copy of the information requested has been placed in the Library.
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Mr. McGrady : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the current level of applications on the waiting list of each registered housing association ; and how many are on priority lists A and B, respectively.
Mr. Atkins : This information is collected annually by the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland and the position at 31 March 1992 was as follows :
Association |A applicants|B applicants
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Abbeyfield Northern Ireland Development Society Limited |- |-
Ballymacarrett Housing Association Ltd |- |-
Ballynafeigh Housing Association Ltd |4 |6
Baptist Union of Ireland Housing Association Ltd |- |112
Belfast Community Housing Association Ltd |1 |46
Belfast Improved Houses Ltd |135 |<1>369
Ben Madigan Housing Association Ltd |2 |16
Botanic Housing Association Ltd |5 |37
Church of Ireland Housing Association (NI) Ltd |- |<1>324
Clonard Housing Association Ltd |16 |43
Connswater Housing Association Ltd |- |20
Coral Crescent Housing Association Ltd |- |-
Covenanter Residential Association Ltd |- |2
Craigavon and District Housing Association Ltd |84 |416
Craigowen Housing Association Ltd |- |<1>-
Derry Housing Association Ltd |85 |<1>370
Donacloney Housing Association Ltd |- |11
Dungannon and District Housing Association Ltd |- |<1>439
Fold Housing Association Ltd |- |2,985
Gosford Housing Association (Armagh) Ltd |1 |27
Grove Housing Association Ltd |4 |54
Habinteg Housing Association (Ulster) Ltd |222 |<1>-
Hearth |1 |3
Larne and District Housing Association Ltd |46 |66
Lisnagarvey Housing Association Ltd |5 |83
Malone Housing Association Ltd |8 |26
Masonic Housing Association (NI) Ltd |27 |198
Newington Housing Association (1975) Ltd |34 |<1>56
North Belfast Mission Housing Society Ltd |1 |3
Oaklee Housing Association Ltd |34 |<1>146
Open Door Housing Association (NI) Ltd |70 |<1>29
Presbyterian Housing Association (NI) Ltd |116 |278
Royal British Legion Housing Association (NI) Ltd |5 |606
St. Matthews Housing Association Ltd |6 |31
Co-op Ltd |145 |489
Tennent St. District Housing Association Ltd |16 |27
Triangle Women's Housing Association Ltd |- |<1>-
Ulidia Housing Association Ltd |14 |<1>26
Willowfield Parish Church Housing Association Ltd |4 |37
Woodvale and Shankill Housing Association Ltd |8 |46
Note: A substantial number of special needs schemes are managed by voluntary agencies on
behalf of the associations marked <1> and information on the waiting lists held by those
agencies is not available.
Mr. McGrady : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the role of (a) the Housing Executive, in relation to individual housing associations and the Northern Ireland Federation of Housing Associations and (b) the Northern Ireland Federation of Housing Associations.
Mr. Atkins : The Housing Executive's main role in relation to housing associations is the assessment of overall housing need and confirmation of need for each proposed housing association scheme. In its enabling role the executive may assist in the development plans of housing associations by the transfer of land and property. The executive works closely with the Northern Ireland Federation of Housing Associations to produce the housing association element of the housing development strategy, which is submitted annually to the Department of the Environment (NI) to support the bid for housing investment in Northern Ireland. I understand that the executive also meets regularly at board level with the federation to discuss matters of mutual interest.
The role of the Northern Ireland Federation is to promote, establish, encourage and assist the formation and the conduct and activities of housing associations in Northern Ireland ; to make representations and negotiate on behalf of the federation, housing associations, and other bodies with regard to housing policy and administration ; to ensure that maximum co-operation and efficiency is attained among housing associations in Northern Ireland and to ensure a close and harmonious liaison and relationship with the National Federation of Housing Associations and other bodies involved in housing activity.
Homelessness
Mr. McGrady : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps have been taken to ensure that the housing associations assist the Housing Executive in meetings its duties to the homeless under the Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 1988.
Mr. Atkins : Registered associations are required to give priority on their waiting lists to applicants who qualify for group A status under the executive's selection scheme. This includes applicants who are accepted as homeless by the Housing Executive.
The Department regularly monitors the management of each assocation's day- to-day affairs, including the operation of their selection schemes to ensure that tenancies are allocated in accordance with approved schemes.
Homelessness
Mr. McGrady : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many units of temporary accommodation and move on accommodation have been
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provided by housing associations for homeless people since 1990 ; and how many are in the Housing Association Development Programme.Mr. Atkins : In addition to temporary housing provided for special needs groups such as ex-offenders, women and children at risk, registered housing associations in Northern Ireland have provided 110 units of temporary accommodation for homeless people since 1 January 1990.
The 1993-94 to 1995-96 development programme includes proposals to provide 135 bed spaces for people who may require temporary accommodation.
Housing associations do not provide accommodation designated specifically for allocation to people "moving on" from temporary accommodation.
Nephrops
Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when a decision was made to exempt the one net rule for nephrops trawlers ; in which fishing areas this exemption will apply ; whether the Northern Ireland fleet fish for nephrops in these areas ; what consultation was undertaken with the Northern Ireland fishing industry prior to the decision ; and if he will make a statement about the implications of this decision for the Northern Ireland fishing industry.
Mr. Hanley : The decision to exempt the one rule for nephrops trawlers was made on 5 March ; it applies in areas IV, North sea, and VI, west Scotland, north of latitude 56 N. Any fishing by Northern Ireland vessels for nephrops in these areas is minimal and there was no consultation with the Northern Ireland industry prior to the decision, which has little or no direct impact on the Northern Ireland fishing industry.
Electricity Supply
Mr. Beggs : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will require the regulator and Northern Ireland Electricity to obtain an independent cost/benefit study for Northern Ireland of all alternative power sources prior to awarding future power purchase agreements ; and if he will require the most economic supply identified taking account of economic, social and environmental issues as well as security of supply to be purchased by Northern Ireland Electricity.
Mr. Atkins : The term under which NIE will award future power purchase agreements are governed by its licence which contains an economic purchasing obligation. In entering into any such agreement NIE will have to satisfy the Director General of Electricity Supply for Northern Ireland.
Mr. Stott : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what studies his Department has made of the impact on domestic electricity prices of the Scottish-Northern Ireland interconnector becoming operational ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Atkins : An economic evaluation of generating options was commissioned by the Department and this showed interconnection with Scotland to be the most attractive option available for meeting the need for new capacity in the late 1990s.
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Electricity Prices
Mr. Stott : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what studies his Department has made of the price differences between domestic electricity prices in Northern Ireland and in the rest of the United Kingdom ; what assessment has been made of the effect the increases in value-added tax on fuel will have on the average home fuel bills ; and if he will make a statement.
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