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During the financial year 1993 94 and 1994 95 no jobs in the Agency have been taken over by contractors. The average number of staff employed by the Agency during 1993 94 was 266, compared with 265 in the previous year. The final figure for 1994 95 will be published in the Agency's Annual Report and Accounts. We estimate that average employment for the year was around 260.I hope this information is helpful.
Letter from E. W. Frizzell to Mr. Paul Flynn, dated 25 April 1995:
The Secretary of State for Scotland has asked me to reply, in respect of the Scottish Prison Service, to your question about the loss of jobs in agencies over the last two years as a result of contracting out of work.
In the Scottish Prison Service market testing has been confined to the part of the Service that maintains buildings and services. A total of 10 establishments have been market tested and in-house teams have been successful in 9 competitions. The number of Scottish Prison Service staff involved in this area has been reduced by seventy-four over the period from 348 at 1 April 1993 to 274 at 1 April 1994. The reduction in numbers of staff largely reflects a reorganisation and restructuring of the in-house teams within the SPS. No staff were made redundant as a consequence of contractors being successful in winning the contract at one establishment.
Letter from Norman MacLeod to Mr. Paul Flynn, dated 25 April 1995.
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your Question about jobs lost to Scottish Office Agencies in the past two years, so far as the Scottish Office Pensions Agency is concerned.
No jobs have been lost to the Agency as a result of work being taken over by contractors but measures to improve efficiency, mainly through better use of information technology, have removed the need for 5 posts. In the same period, however, a number of new posts have been created to deal with new work.
Letter from Patrick Cadell to Mr. Paul Flynn, dated 25 April 1995:
In reply to your question on the number of jobs lost to agencies, I have to say that no jobs have been lost, and no jobs have disappeared as a consequence of our becoming a Next Steps Agency. Letter from Dr. R. K. M. Hay to Mr. Paul Flynn, dated 25 April 1995:
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply on behalf of the Scottish Agricultural Science Agency (SASA) to your recent question about jobs which have been taken over by contractors or have disappeared in the last 2 years.
In the last 2 years, 4 Security Guard posts in SASA have been taken over by contractors. To date, no posts have disappeared.
Arable Area Payments Scheme
Dr. Strang: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many claims were made in Scotland (1) for set-aside and (2) in total under the arable area payments scheme in(i) 1993 94 and (ii) in 1994 95 of (a) between £0 and £5,000, (b) between £5,001 and £10,000, (c) between £10,001 and £15,000, (d) between £15,001 and £20,000, (e) between £20,001 and £25,000, (f) between £25,001 and £50,000, (g) between £50,001 and £75,000, (h) between £75,001 and £100,000, (i) between £100,001 and £150,000, (j) between £150,001 and £200,000, (k) between £200,001 and £1 million and (1) over £1 million; and what is his latest estimate of the number of claims that will be made in1995 96 in each value band. [18632]
Sir Hector Monro [holding answer 5 April 1995]: The numbers of claims made by farmers in Scotland under the arable area payments scheme in the scheme years 1993 and 1994 were as follows:
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(1) Set-aside
£ |1993 |1994
-------------------------------------
0-5,000 |3,361|3,437
5,001-10,000 |750 |1,021
10,001-15,000 |148 |256
15,001-20,000 |43 |95
20,001-25,000 |19 |39
25,001-50,000 |8 |30
50,001-75,000 |1 |1
75,001-100,000 |nil |1
100,001-150,000 |nil |nil
150,001-200,000 |nil |nil
200,001-£1 million |nil |nil
Over £1 million |nil |nil
|4,330|4,880
(2) In total
£ |1993 |1994
-------------------------------------
0-5,000 |5,526|5,109
5,001-10,000 |1,232|1,088
10,001-15,000 |794 |804
15,001-20,000 |504 |650
20,001-25,000 |366 |402
25,001-50,000 |779 |986
50,001-75,000 |206 |258
75,001-100,000 |59 |95
100,001-150,000 |39 |51
150,001-200,000 |4 |13
200,001-£1 million |5 |4
Over £1 million |nil |nil
Total |9,514|9,460
Figures are not yet available for
the 1995 scheme year.
ENVIRONMENT
Departmental Annual Report
Mr. Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what measures the Department takes to assess the cost and staff implications of compiling material for the departmental annual report; [20195]
(2) how much staff time, and at what estimated cost, was put into compiling the departmental annual report; and what were the figures for each year for which figures are available since 1990. [20194]
Sir Paul Beresford: Contributions to the annual report are prepared by all sections of the Department. Staff time spent on this activity is not separately recorded, and it is not therefore possible to give a valid estimate of the costs involved.
Public Sector Housing (Northamptonshire)
Mr. William Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list for each district authority in Northamptonshire the total discounted value of public sector flats and houses sold in each year since 1991 92. [20279]
Mr. Robert B. Jones: The latest information on total discounted values of dwellings sold by local authorities in Northamptonshire between April 1991 and December
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1994 is given in the table. Actual cash receipts in any year will depend on the extent to which sales were financed by loans from the authorities.Discounted value of all sales £ million Local Authority |1991-92 |1992-93 |1993-94 |<1>1994-95 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Corby |2,421 |2,097 |3,678 |1,852 Daventry |1,242 |3,061 |1,316 |776 East Northamptonshire |1,042 |1,261 |2,368 |1,662 Kettering |1,020 |1,029 |1,287 |n/a Northampton |4,197 |2,503 |4,524 |n/a South Northamptonshire |1,109 |1,543 |1,982 |1,618 Wellingborough |1,480 |1,165 |991 |1,011 <1> 9 months.
Mr. William Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his latest estimate of the number of local authority tenants not in receipt of housing benefit for each local authority in Northamptonshire. [20267]
Mr. Robert B. Jones: Based on returns from local authorities for 1994 95, the Department's latest estimates for the numbers of local authority tenants not in receipt of housing benefit in each local authority in Northamptonshire are as follows:
<
Local authority |Council tenants not
|on housing benefit
------------------------------------------------------------
Corby |3,500
Daventry |1,600
East Northampton |1,800
Kettering |1,700
Northampton |5,600
South Northampton |1,500
Wellingborough |2,500
Mr. William Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the total number of households accepted by each local authority in Northamptonshire for each year since 1992 93 for securing permanent accommodation under the homeless provisions of the Housing (Homeless Persons) Act 1977 and subsequent legislation. [20278]
Mr. Robert B. Jones: Local authorities report the number of households for whom they accept responsibility to secure permanent accommodation under the homelessness provisions of the 1985 Housing Act in their quarterly P1(E) returns.
I refer my hon. Friend to the answer my right hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government, Housing and Urban Regeneration gave for the information covering the years 1992 to 1994 to the hon. Member for Greenwich (Mr. Raynsford) on 4 April 1995, Official Report, column 1049 .
Mr. William Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the total usable receipts held by each local authority in Northamptonshire on 30 March for each year since 1983. [20270]
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Mr. Robert B. Jones: The total usable capital receipts held at 31 March in each year from 1990 onwards are given in the table. Information is not available on a comparable basis for years prior to the introduction of the current capital control system in 1990.
Usable capital receipts held at 31 March
£ million
|1990 |1991 |1992 |1993 |1994
------------------------------------------------------------
Northamptonshire |13.412|12.131|11.829|0.220 |0.220
Corby |2.003 |0.001 |0.120 |0.749 |3.447
Daventry |7.311 |6.730 |4.510 |2.884 |0.622
East Northampton |5.233 |3.144 |2.402 |2.628 |0.000
Kettering |6.000 |2.542 |1.741 |1.481 |2.964
Northampton |21.235|13.849|10.549|3.634 |4.523
South Northampton |7.021 |2.729 |0.738 |0.000 |2.152
Wellingborough |18.461|14.075|11.267|11.840|11.082
Mr. William Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many dwellings were owned by each district council in Northamptonshire at the time the right to buy was introduced; how many are owned at the latest date; what percentage that is of the original figure. [20268]
Mr. Robert B. Jones: Local authorities in England report the number of dwellings they own on their annual housing investment programme returns. The numbers of dwellings reported by each local authority in Northamptonshire at 1 April 1980 have been compared with those at 1 April 1994, the latest information available.
|(1) Stock of |(2) Stock of |(1) as a
|dwellings at |dwellings at |percentage of
Local authority |1 April 1994 |1 April 1980 |(2)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Corby |7,631 |13,628 |56.0
Daventry |4,095 |6,082 |67.3
East Northamptonshire |4,557 |6,047 |75.4
Kettering |4,881 |6,626 |75.7
Northampton |15,825 |12,925 |122.4
South Northamptonshire |3,667 |5,745 |63.8
Wellingborough |5,845 |7,750 |75.4
Right to buy was introduced in October 1980. Changes in local authorities' dwelling stocks include other losses and gains apart from sales through the right to buy. In the case of Northampton district council, the 1994 stock reflects the acquisition of some 6, 400 dwellings from the Commission for the New Towns in April 1985.
Mr. William Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many people were employed by each local authority in Northamptonshire (a) full time and (b) part time in each year since 1983. [20272]
Mr. Robert B. Jones: The available information is given in the table.
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Numbers employed in local authorities in Northamptonshire at June of each year
1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988
Authority |Full-time|Part-time|Full-time|Part-time|Full-time|Part-time|Full-time|Part-time|Full-time|Part-time|Full-time|Part-time
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northamptonshire |11,784 |9,751 |11,832 |9,735 |11,857 |10,254 |11,890 |10,934 |11,594 |11,223 |11,819 |11,477
Corby |527 |122 |550 |112 |582 |108 |572 |141 |583 |170 |580 |135
Daventry |268 |48 |268 |43 |275 |53 |287 |54 |298 |59 |311 |79
East Northamptonshire |263 |70 |266 |73 |264 |73 |265 |72 |261 |69 |260 |80
Kettering |509 |92 |494 |105 |486 |103 |485 |108 |478 |109 |478 |96
Northampton |1,606 |172 |1,608 |159 |1,599 |183 |1,606 |178 |1,482 |216 |1,431 |235
South Northamptonshire |261 |35 |263 |34 |257 |34 |252 |37 |255 |43 |255 |26
Wellingborough |386 |67 |389 |73 |384 |77 |376 |79 |378 |83 |384 |90
1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994<1>
Authority |Full-time|Part-time|Full-time|Part-time|Full-time|Part-time|Full-time|Part-time|Full-time|Part-time|Full-time|Part-time
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northamptonshire |11,536 |11,295 |11,005 |12,365 |10,943 |10,966 |10,752 |10,409 |9,507 |9,870 |n/a |n/a
Corby |613 |134 |667 |153 |621 |135 |613 |133 |n/a |n/a |n/a |n/a
Daventry |n/a |n/a |314 |106 |312 |118 |315 |86 |312 |89 |344 |96
East Northamptonshire |267 |78 |213 |57 |200 |57 |203 |57 |n/a |n/a |n/a |n/a
Kettering |468 |104 |464 |105 |n/a |n/a |n/a |n/a |n/a |n/a |n/a |n/a
Northampton |n/a |n/a |1,554 |192 |1,602 |281 |1,518 |151 |1,429 |255 |1,396 |180
South Northamptonshire |n/a |n/a |n/a |n/a |n/a |n/a |342 |43 |336 |74 |334 |63
Wellingborough |388 |93 |388 |105 |392 |100 |383 |119 |346 |116 |339 |112
Notes:
<1>Provisional data.
n/a: Data not available.
1. Education, highways, fire services, law and order and social services are administered by Northamptonshire county council. The other authorities
shown are district councils which, among other services, administer housing, planning and refuse collection.
2. Polytechnics and higher education institutions were transferred from the local authority sector in April 1989.
3. Further education institutions became the responsibility of the Further Education Funding Council in April 1993.
Source:
Joint Staffing Watch for England.
Executive Agencies
Mr. Macdonald: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the number and location of Building Research Establishment, Ordnance Survey, Planning Inspectorate, Security Facilities Executive and Buying Agency offices closed and the number of jobs lost or transferred as a result of agency work transferring from Scotland to the rest of the United Kingdom over the past five years; and if he will list the number and location of offices opened and jobs gained in Scotland as the result of agency work transferring to Scotland from the rest of the United Kingdom over the same period. [20304]
Sir Paul Beresford: One Ordnance Survey post in Edinburgh has been lost as the result of work transferring from Scotland to England during the past five years.
Construction Industry
Mr. Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 4 April, Official Report, columns 1052 53, which other Departments have submitted their views to the consultants regarding a single test for contractors and consultants for public sector projects. [20208]
Mr. Robert. B. Jones: During the course of its commission, Capita Management Consultancy Ltd. has consulted representatives from the following Government Departments and agencies: Her Majesty's Treasury, the Ministry of Defence, the Prison Service, the Scottish Office, the Houses of Parliament, the Parliamentary Works Directorate, the Benefits Agency, NHS Estates, the Department of Transport, the Department of the Environment and Cadw: Welsh Historic Monuments.
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Housing Renewal Programmes
Mr. Rooker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to announce the result of his consultation on private housing renewal programmes. [20349]
Mr. Robert B. Jones: In due course.
Renewal Areas
Mr. Rooker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what considerations led his Department to commission a review of the operation of renewal areas; who is carrying out the review; and when it is expected to report. [20348]
Mr. Robert B. Jones: We wish to establish what local authorities have done to progress declared renewal areas, what they have achieved and whether any further guidance from the Department would be helpful. The research project is being undertaken by Austin Mayhead and Company Ltd., which is due to report in July.
LIFE Programme
Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the scope of the EC LIFE programme on the environment over the period 1996 to 1999, indicating how it has changed from the first phase and those areas where the United Kingdom or British- based companies can benefit from the LIFE programme. [20383]
Mr. Atkins: The Commission of the European Communities adopted a proposal for the second phase of the LIFE programme on 12 April 1995. This proposal will
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now go through the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament under the co-operation procedure. Until this process has been completed, the scope of the programme cannot be known for certain, but it seems likely that United Kingdom companies will continue to be able to benefit in areas such as new cleaner technologies.Corncrake
Ms Quin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement regarding the disappearance of the corncrake from mainland Britain and what proposals he has to encourage its reintroduction to the countryside. [20244]
Mr. Atkins: The population of the corncrake started to decline in the 19th century and current figures suggest that there are between 500 and 600 pairs in Britain. The present population is primarily concentrated in Scotland where they nest in pasture and rough grassland.
Since 1991, the Government have been involved in schemes in Scotland to provide financial incentives to landowners and farmers to introduce farming methods which are more conducive to breeding corncrakes. The corncrake is a candidate species under consideration by the biodiversity steering group for an individual action plan to improve its conservation status. The steering group will report later this year.
Unitary Authorities
Mr. Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment to what extent his proposal to establish a unitary authority for Wokingham is consistent with his proposals to create unitary authorities in other shire county areas. [20794]
Mr. Curry: In taking our decisions for each county we sought to achieve a structure which would best combine effective and convenient local government in the area with a reflection of local identities and interests. With regard to our decisions on Berkshire, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 21 March 1995 to my hon. Friend the Member for Eastbourne (Mr. Waterson), Official Report , columns 123-28 .
Mr. Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many representatives he has received (a) in support of and (b) against his proposals to establish six unitary local authorities in Berkshire. [20796]
Mr. Curry: Prior to our announcement on the future local government structure in Berkshire we received some 5,400 letters, two petitions totalling some 14,300 signatures and 135 pro-forma leaflets. Many of the opinions expressed did not directly relate to our proposal for a six unitary structure. Since the announcement on 21 March, we have received 13 letters, three of which are in favour of the proposal and 10 against.
Electoral Registration Officers
Dr. Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list (a) the budget available to and (b) the actual expenditure by electoral registration officers in each individual council area, for the most recent year for which figures are available. [20489]
Mr. Robert B. Jones: I have placed the available information in the Library of the House.
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Capital Expenditure (Housing)
Mrs. Maddock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the sum total in constant prices of allocated housing capital expenditure, including housing investment programme allocation, approved development programme allocation, additional credit approvals, specified capital grants and expenditure on housing within the single regeneration budget, and any equivalent schemes and allocations which have previously existed, for (a) 1978 79, (b) 1994 95 and (c) 1995 96 in (i) each region and (ii) each housing authority area in England. [19887]
Mr. Robert B. Jones: Information on housing investment programme allocations for 1978 79 for each local authority in England is available in the Library.
For housing investment programme and approved development programme allocations in England in 1994 95 and 1995 96 I refer the hon. Member to my answer to her question on Thursday 16 February 1995, Official Report , column 799 .
For the housing partnership fund, the cash incentive scheme and the flats over shops scheme allocations for 1994 95, I refer the hon. Member to my answer to her question on Thursday 16 February 1995, Official Report , column 799 .
Allocations for the housing partnership fund and the cash incentive scheme for 1995 96 have now been made and I have placed in the Library copies of the Department's press notices which announced allocations by English local authority area for these schemes in 1995 96.
The GDP market price deflator given in the table can be used to exclude the effect of general inflation.
|GDP deflator 1978-79
|= 100
---------------------------------------------------------------
1978-79 |100.0
1994-95 |292.3
1995-96 |301.8
The single regeneration budget challenge fund promotes an integrated approach to local regeneration and it is not possible to identify separately the resources directed at housing. However, we estimate that about 70 of the schemes approved in the first round have a significant housing content and these schemes are expected to receive about £80 million of SRB resources in 1995 96. In addition, the SRB also provides resources for continuing commitments under the estate action programmes and for housing action trusts.
Local authorities also fund capital expenditure on housing from usable capital receipts and revenue contributions to capital. A number of the programmes lever in additional resources from the private sector.
Environmentally Sensitive Areas
Mr. Macdonald: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what amount of environmentally sensitive area grant budget for 1994 95 is still uncommitted (a) in cash and (b) as a percentage of the budget; and if he will make a statement on underspending in environmentally sensitive areas budget for 1993 94 and 1994 95. [19965]
Column 473
Mr. Jack: I have been asked to reply.
Expenditure in 1994 95 on payments to farmers in English ESAs was, provisionally, £20.1 million, which represents 65 per cent. of the total provision of £31 million.
Six new ESAs were launched in 1993 and a further six in 1994, in respect of which first payments will be made in 1995 96. This brings the total in England to 22. Participation is voluntary and interest in the new schemes is growing as farmers become more familiar with the requirements.
Public Bodies
Dr. Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his department publish (a) annual reports, (b) annual accounts, (c) the minutes of meetings, (d) the agendas of meetings and (e) registers of members' interests; and whether in each case this is(i) under a statutory requirement or (ii) voluntary. [20496]
Sir Paul Beresford: Details of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by my department are listed in the Cabinet Office publication "Public Bodies 1994". A copy is available in the House of Commons Library. In addition to the bodies listed in that publication the Department now sponsors two further executive non-departmental public bodies. These are:
Stonebridge housing action trust, Brent
The National Forest Company
Each of these organisations produces and publishes an annual report and accounts. Production of the annual report is a statutory requirement except for the Letchworth Garden City corporation and the UK Eco-Labelling Board. Production of the annual accounts is a statutory requirement in all cases.
Housing action trusts voluntarily make the agendas and minutes for their meetings, except for confidential items, available to the public. Letchworth Garden City corporation voluntarily provides summary minutes available to the public. The minutes and agenda of meetings of the National Rivers Authority statutory committees--the flood defence, rivers advisory and fisheries advisory committees--are open to inspection by members of the public who attend meetings of these committees.
From 1995, registers of members' interests will voluntarily be made available for public inspection by all of the listed organisations with the exception of Letchworth Garden City corporation, the London residuary body, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee and the British Board of Agrement.
Dr Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department which are subject to (a) investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner, (b) scrutiny by the Audit Commission, (c) scrutiny by the National Audit Office, (d) statutory provisions for open government, (e) performance indicators, and (f) provisions under the citizens charter. [20656]
Sir. Paul Beresford: Details of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by my department are listed in the Cabinet Office publication "Public Bodies 1994". A copy is available in the House
Column 474
of Commons Library. In addition to the bodies listed in that publication the Department now sponsors two further executive non-departmental public bodies. These are:Stonebridge housing action trust, Brent
The National Forest Company
All these 33 organisations are subject to investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner with the exception of the Audit Commission, the British Board of Agrement, Letchworth Garden City corporation, the National Forest Company, the six housing action trusts and the London Pensions Fund Authority. The six housing action trusts and the London Pensions Fund Authority are subject to investigation by the Commission for Local Administration.
The London Pensions Fund Authority and the London residuary body are subject to scrutiny by the Audit Commission.
All the organisations can be subjected to scrutiny by the National Audit Office.
All the Departments' executive non-departmental public bodies are expected to adopt the Department's code of practice on open government or adopt a similar code of their own. This is not a statutory code. They are all expected to have key performance measures and targets, information on which is reported in their annual reports; and to abide by the citizens charter.
EMPLOYMENT
Parliamentary Questions
Mrs. Ann Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many parliamentary questions to his Department in each year since 1979 80 requesting a priority written answer or answer on a named day, were answered within three days; how many received a holding reply; and how many of those which received a holding reply then received a substantive answer within a further five, 10, 15, 20 days or longer. [18542]
Miss Widdecombe: The information requested is available only from 12 November 1990 and is detailed in the following table:
Total Questions
answered (where a
holding)
Total numbenumber reply has been
sent) within
of priorityof (working days):
and named |questions
day |answered
questions |within
answered |3 days |5 |10 |15 |20 |20+
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<1>3,439 |3,037 |361 |17 |9 |9 |6
<1> Information provided up to and including 31 March 1995.
Mrs. Ann Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many times in each year since 1979 80 his Department has written to a right hon. or hon. Member correcting an answer to a parliamentary question. [18544]
Miss Widdecombe: The information requested is available only from 1 January 1992. The Department has written to right hon. or hon Members on 12 occasions to correct answers to parliamentary questions. The information is detailed in the following table:
Column 475
Year |Number of replies
|issued correcting
|an answer to a
|parliamentary
|question
------------------------------------------------------
1992 |1
1993 |6
1994 |3
1995<1> |2
<1>Information provided up to and including 6 April
1995.
Jobseeker's Allowance
Ms Short: To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his answer of 22 March, Official Report , column 247 , what will be the maximum number of hours unemployed people receiving the jobseeker's allowance will be able to undertake on training and education courses provided by those independent European social fund courses not directly funded by the Further Education Council; and if he will make a statement. [19724]
Miss Widdecombe: People claiming jobseeker's allowance will be able to undertake part-time courses, provided they remain available for and actively seek employment. That carries forward existing arrangements. The rules will, however, be updated to reflect changes in education definitions. Until recently, further education courses were classed by colleges as full or part time, with a threshold of 21 hours per week of supervised study, which could include some private study. Each case was looked at on its merits. This system has now changed, however, and courses funded by the Further Education Funding Council are organised on the basis of guided learning hours. The JSA rules will take account of this change and claimants will be able to undertake FEFC funded courses of up to 16 guided learning hours per week. Jobseekers will be able to undertake private study in addition to this, as long as they remain available for work and are actively seeking employment. This is designed to allow the same number of claimants to undertake courses as do so under the current arrangements. There will be no such change for courses that are not funded by the FEFC, including any funded by the European social fund. For these, the upper limit will generally continue to be 21 hours per week, with, as now, each case being decided on its merits.
Health and Safety Executive
Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what advice he will give to the Health and Safety Executive in light of its recommendation that the production of refractory ceramic fibre should cease. [20015]
Mr. Oppenheim: The Health and Safety Executive has not recommended that the production of refractory ceramic fibres should cease. The European Commission is preparing a proposal for the classification of refractory ceramic fibres which would require an appropriate hazard warning label to be used when those materials are supplied.
Safety Reports
Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what considerations have led to full safety reports prepared pursuant to the requirements of the Control of Industrial Major Accident Hazards Regulations
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1984, S.I.,1984, No. 1902, as amended, for the Health and Safety Executive not being made publicly available on request. [20381]Mr. Oppenheim: Safety reports are relevant information for the purposes of section 28 of the Health and Safety at Work, etc., Act 1974, whose disclosure is permitted only in specified circumstances. Relevant information may be disclosed with the consent of the person who supplied it or for use in court proceedings or where its disclosure would be for the purposes of the Health and Safety Executive's functions. None of these would allow the general public availability of these reports.
Any environmental information in a safety report will be made available on request under the Environmental Information Regulations 1992, subject to the excepted categories of information in those regulations.
Seveso Directive
Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what information Her Majesty's Government have received from the European Commission in regard to the recent submission by Friends of the Earth United Kingdom to the Commission requesting that the United Kingdom be prosecuted for non compliance with the Seveso directive, 80/501/EEC. [20400]
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