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themselves authorised, but are specified in authorisations under the Radioactive Substances Act 1993 to receive the waste. The sites, divided into those operated by local authority and privately operated, are as listed:
Sites |Operators
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
England and Wales (excluding East
Midlands and Nottinghamshire)
Cowpen Bewley Tip, Cleveland |Privately Operated
Waste Ponds, Walney Island, Cumbria |Privately Operated
Magnesium Elektron site, Greater
Manchester |Privately Operated
Braziers Landfill, Hertfordshire |Privately Operated
SCM Chemicals site, Humberside |Privately Operated
Clifton Marsh, Lancashire |Privately Operated
Beddingham Quarry, Sussex |Privately Operated
Walton Arpley, Cheshire |Local Authority
| Operated
Beighton Tip, South Yorkshire |Local Authority
| Operated
Milton Landfill, Cambridge |Local Authority
| Waste Disposal Co.
Cilgwyn Quarry, Gwynedd |Local Authority
|Waste Disposal Co.
(ii) East Midlands
Hilts Quarry, Derbyshire |Privately Operated
(iii) Nottinghamshire
Nil
Four of these 12 sites receive low-level radioactive waste from premises licensed under the Nuclear Installations Act 1965, and which are local to the site of burial. The remaining sites receive waste generated by activities which are not a part of the nuclear industry, most commonly hospitals and universities.
London Residuary Body
Mr. John Marshall: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what amount of money has been raised by the London Residuary Body since its institution; and how much it has distributed to the London borough of Barnet.
Mr. Robert B. Jones: Since its inception, the London Residuary Body has distributed over £576 million in capital receipts and over £223 million in revenue reserves among the London boroughs of which £22.326 million in capital receipts and £8.962 million in revenue reserves has been distributed to the London borough of Barnet.
Energy Advice Centres
Mr. Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the locations of each of the pilot local energy advice centres set up under the auspices of the Energy Saving Trust Ltd., to which his Department has given support; and if he will make a statement on how many further pilot centres are proposed.
Mr. Robert B. Jones: The locations are listed at the end of the answer.
It is our policy to set up more pilot centres as and when suitable proposals are made to the Energy Saving trust and sufficient matching funding has been secured. Currently there are four centres which are close to being established--they are as follows:
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Belfast, which is due to start work on 30 January;Wirral, which is expecting to start work shortly; and
Orkney and Western Isles, which are hoped to be operational in the near future, once discussions about the funding arrangements have been resolved. The Energy Saving trust offered both £10,000 each in grant aid in the autumn and are waiting for the matching funding to be provided so that the two centres can be launched.
Locations of Local Energy Advice Centres
Aberdeen
Belfast operational from 30 January 1995
Birmingham
Black Country office in West Bromwich
Bristol
Cardiff
Coventry
Croydon
Dundee
Glasgow
Greenwich
Highland Inverness
Islington
Leeds
Leicester
Lewisham
Lothian and Edinburgh Edinburgh
Middlesborough
Oxford
Peterborough
Plymouth
Ryedale-Malton
Shetland Foula
South London-closed down in October 1994.
Strathclyde Glasgow
Swansea
Tayside Dundee
Telford
Tyneside Newcastle
West Wales Newport
Water Companies
Mr. Fatchett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to discuss with the Director General of Ofwat the contracting out of sewage contracts by water companies; and if he will make a statement.
Mrs. Helen Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what discussions he has had with the Director General of Ofwat about the advisability of water companies contracting out their care services of water and waste water treatment;
(2) what powers he has to prevent water companies from inviting bids to contract out their water treatment operations; and if he will make a statement;
(3) what powers he has to prevent water companies from inviting bids to contract out their waste water treatment operations; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Atkins: The decision to contract out the maintenance and operation of services is a matter for individual water and sewerage companies.
Domestic Plumbing Systems
Mrs. Helen Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what research he has commissioned to
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examine the overall cost of removing lead piping from the household water systems.Mr. Atkins: The results of research commissioned from the Water Research Centre into the cost of replacing lead pipes were reported in 1992. Copies of this report are being replaced in the Library of the House.
Mrs. Helen Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he plans to issue new regulations to control standards of work and product specifications with regard to domestic plumbing systems.
Mr. Atkins: I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to my hon Friend the Member for Hereford (Mr. Shepherd) on 12 January, Official Report , columns 174 75 .
Mrs. Helen Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has had and from which organisations about establishing a grant-aided programme to replace lead pipes from domestic water systems; and what plans he has to do so.
Mr. Atkins: I am not aware of any representations for such a programme; I have no plans to extend the present house renovation grant.
Nuclear Waste Disposal
Mr. Hain: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he received Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution report on Crooks Marsh farm; and what is his view on its proposals to abandon plans to dispose of nuclear waste in landfill sites.
Mr. Atkins: I am not aware of any report specifically relating to Crooks Marsh farm. However, this site is referred to in Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution's annual monitoring report for radioactive substances 1992, a copy of which is in the library.
This site has accepted wastes from local hospitals and universities in the past, but with the transfer of the site from the county council to the Local Authority Waste Disposal Co. the disposers were informed that the site would stop accepting this type of waste. HMIP has no proposals in respect of nuclear waste disposal in landfill sites. It would assess rigorously any application from any operation for such disposals and issue an authorisation only when it was assured of the safety of the public.
Radon Gas
Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many grants the Government have given to householders affected by radon gas in each of the last five years.
Mr. Robert B. Jones: Local authorities may give grants to householders affected by radon gas but no information on the number of grants given is held centrally.
Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many houses in Devon are affected by radon gas; and how many have been treated.
Sir Paul Beresford: The National Radiological Protection Board estimates that some 17,000 houses in Devon have radon levels in excess of the Government action level. The Department of the Environment has provided radon measurements in response to requests
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from householders in approximately 58,000 homes in Devon, of which 4,150 were found to exceed the action level. The householders have been informed of their results and advised on appropriate action. It is for individual householders to decide what, if any, remedial action to take.Merseyside Development Corporation
Mr. Parry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the Merseyside development corporation will cease to exist.
Sir Paul Beresford: The Merseyside development corporation will be wound up on 31 March 1998.
Peregrines and Goshawks
Mr. Morley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many (a) peregrines and (b) goshawks were bred in captivity in each year since 1990.
Mr. Atkins [holding answer Friday 13 January 1995]: Information available to the Department is as follows:
|1990|1991|1992|1993|1994
-------------------------------------------
Peregrine<1> |269 |319 |290 |360 |289
Goshawk |79 |155 |141 |154 |116
<1> These figures include both pure-bred
and hybrid birds.
OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION
Aid and Trade
Mr. Harry Greenway: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what trade is estimated to emanate from overseas aid to the third world in the current financial year; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Baldry: United Kingdom firms benefit directly from that part of the bilateral aid budget which is tied: in 1993 this was worth over £700 million. More importantly, aid supports economic growth and brings wider benefits to the UK as a major trading nation.
South Africa
Mr. Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support Her Majesty's Government are currently giving to the Government of South Africa.
Mr. Baldry: We have a substantial aid programme, about £16 million this year, in the form of know-how and support to local institutions, to assist directly with the process of transition and reform. We have taken a number of initiatives to develop further our strong trade and investment links, and fund separately a programme to assist the integration of the South Africa national defence force.
Somaliland
36. Mr. Michael: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has
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been made through the work of the United Kingdom representative in Hargeisa towards developing the economy and stable government in the republic of Somaliland.Mr. Baldry: From April last year, the ODA NGO liaison and support officer worked with international and local NGOs and the administration in Hargeisa to help to re-establish basic health and education services in the region. Unfortunately, his work was suspended in November following the outbreak of fighting.
Indonesia
37. Mr. Wicks: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on aid policy to Indonesia.
Mr. Baldry: There is a strong economic and social case for Britain, like other major donors, to have a substantial aid programme in Indonesia. The Government of Indonesia are pursuing sound policies and have an impressive record of poverty reduction: but Indonesia still has some 27 million people living in poverty. Our aid programme is focused on human resource development, good government, the environment, power generation and transport.
International Development Association
38. Mr. Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what conditions he proposes to attach to any United Kingdom contribution to the replenishment of the International Development Association.
Mr. Baldry: During the negotiations on the 11th replenishment of the International Development Association, we will be working closely with other donors to enhance IDA's effectiveness and to strengthen its focus on poverty reduction, sound economic management and environmentally sustainable development.
Kurdistan
Mr. Campbell-Savours: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support is being given to the people of Kurdistan.
Mr. Baldry: This financial year we have committed some £5.6 million for humanitarian activities in Northern Iraq.
This includes nearly £1.8 million through Save the Children Fund for village rehabilitation, £2 million through UNICEF for the provision of kerosene, and over £1.1 million through UNICEF for medical supplies and combating childhood diseases. The rest is for family support, roads, crop protection and a targeting study.
Aid and Trade Provision
Miss Lestor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why the full list of United Kingdom companies involved in the Ankara Metro project, sanctioned under the aid and trade provision, detailed in the answer to the hon. Member for Wallsend (Mr. Byers) of 19 December, Official Report , column 886 , was not included in the Library paper No. 663(3s) detailing ATP projects since 1984.
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Mr. Baldry: The paper placed in the Library details ATP projects only by lead contractor. The answer referred to requested details of all United Kingdom and local companies involved in the Ankara Metro project. It is not possible to give details of all United Kingdom companies and local contractors involved in every ATP project because of the large number of companies involved. This information is not held centrally and could be gathered only at disproportionate cost.
Departmental Responsibilities
Ms Janet Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the division of responsibilities and relationship between the Minister for Overseas Development and agencies of the Overseas Development Administration.
Mr. Baldry: The ODA has one executive agency, the Natural Resources Institute. The framework of planning, control and accountability and agreed aims, objectives and activities are set out in its framework document.
SOCIAL SECURITY
Invalidity Benefit
Mr. Heppell: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people who have lost entitlement to invalidity benefit have then been deemed ineligible for unemployment benefit in (i) the east midlands, (ii) Nottinghamshire and (iii) Nottingham in the last year for which figures are available.
Mr. Hague: The information is not available.
Departmental Responsibilities
Ms Janet Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the division of responsibilities and relationship between his departmental Ministers and agencies.
Mr. Hague: The responsibilities of, and relationship between, Ministers and Department of Social Security agencies are set out in the agencies' framework documents, copies of which are in the Library.
Strathclyde Flooding
Mr. McMaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if the possession of (a) a bank account or (b) a commercial credit card will disqualify victims of the Strathclyde floods who are not in receipt of income support from securing a crisis loan; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Roger Evans: Crisis loans are available to people irrespective of whether they are in receipt of income support, to help in an emergency or a disaster, where it is the only means of preventing serious risk or damage to the applicant's or his family's health or safety.
Even where an applicant holds a credit card, or has a bank account, this need not be a barrier to making an application. Social fund officers take decisions on whether a crisis loan is payable, in doing so they consider all the circumstances surrounding the claim, including the availability of other resources to meet the need.
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Mr. McMaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what investigations he (a) conducted and (b) intends to conduct to assess the needs of the Strathclyde flood victims; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Roger Evans: Following a meeting on 15 December 1994 with the hon. Member for Paisley, South and other representatives of the Strathclyde district, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security requested daily reports from each of the five Benefits Agency districts affected, detailing social fund expenditure for the flood victims. In addition, a benefit bus visited the worst-affected areas to offer advice; staff visited the flood centres where victims were being temporarily housed to pay out some money from the social fund and the local press detailed additional funds made available by the Secretary of State from the social fund.
Mr. McMaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what action he is taking, or encouraging the Benefits Agency to take, to ensure that victims of the Strathclyde floods are (a) not encouraged and (b) actively discouraged from entering into contracts with loan sharks as the means of obtaining finance to re-establish their homes and lives.
Mr. Roger Evans: Additional funds of £120,000 were made available to the Benefits Agency district offices affected, specifically to provide assistance to those people in need of help as a result of the floods. So far, 526 awards have been made--421 grants and 105 loans totalling £108,217. Loans are interest free, and repayment rates are set taking into account the circumstances of each individual case. Those people who have received repayable loans will be able to arrange a sympathetic repayment rate appropriate to their circumstances.
Mr. McMaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will meet representatives of the insurance ombudsman and the British Association of Insurers to discuss outstanding issues relating to the floods in Strathclyde during December 1994; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Roger Evans: My right hon. Friend has not received a request for a meeting to discuss these issues, either from representatives of the insurance ombudsman or from the Association of British Insurers.
Mr. McMaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will detail the eligibility criteria applicable to victims of the Strathclyde floods who make application for (a) crisis loans and (b) grant assistance in respect of (i) immediate help to deal with the aftermath of flooding, (ii) help with making temporary accommodation habitable and (iii) help with establishing permanent accommodation as a warm, dry, comfortable home; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what assistance is available to Strathclyde flood victims who are (a) in receipt of income support and (b) not in receipt of income support for domestic fuel bills which are higher than normal due to the additional heating required to (i) dry out flooded homes, (ii) heat temporary accommodation, (iii) heat temporary accommodation while at the same time drying out flooded homes and (iv) make a realistic contribution to the additional fuel costs of host relatives or friends while continuing to pay the fuel costs of drying out flooded homes; and if he will make a statement;
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