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Column 553
Patients with hospital order for manslaughter, by years to release
England and Wales Number of patients
|Less than |1 up to 2 |2 up to 3 |3 up to 4 |4 up to 5 |5 up to 6 |6 up to 7 |7 up to 8 |8 up to 9 |Remains on
Sentence year |one year |years |years |years |years |years |years |years |years |population |Total
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1985 |- |1 |3 |2 |1 |2 |2 |3 |1 |13 |28
1986 |- |2 |3 |- |- |1 |2 |1 |- |14 |24
1987 |2 |1 |3 |3 |2 |3 |- |- |- |19 |33
1988 |2 |2 |3 |4 |1 |2 |2 |- |- |14 |31
1989 |1 |6 |1 |3 |- |- |- |- |- |23 |34
1990 |1 |2 |2 |5 |- |- |- |- |- |22 |32
1991 |1 |1 |4 |1 |- |- |- |- |- |26 |33
1992 |- |2 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |29 |31
1993 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |30 |30
1994- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |24<1> |24<1>
<1> Provisional.
Note:
In 1988 the total includes one person for whom details are not available.
Mrs. Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list (a) existing civil defence facilities currently in operation, (b) the final cost of construction in each case, (c) the numbers employed at each facility and (d) the numbers entitled to use each facility in the event of war. [23170]
Mr. Nicholas Baker: There are no existing civil defence facilities currently in operation. The remaining former regional government headquarters, United Kingdom Warning and Monitoring Organisation monitoring posts, and United Kingdom Warning and Monitoring Organisation group controls, are awaiting disposal, most by sale on the open market. Prior to
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commencement of the disposal programme there were 17 RGHQs, 26 UKWMO group controls and 874 UKWMO monitoring posts.The cost of construction of Chilmark and Ashdown Forest RGHQs, the only two purpose-built establishments, was approximately £2.1 million, in 1986, and £3 million, in 1989, respectively. Information relating to the cost of construction of all the other facilities either is not available or could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The numbers designated to operate these facilities in the event of war would have ranged from two to three at the United Kingdom Warning and Monitoring Organisation posts to the 60 at the United Kingdom Warning and Monitoring Organisation group controls and 150 at the larger RGHQs.
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Mrs. Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further assessment he has made of the implications on civil defence in the United Kingdom arising from the peace dividend; and if he will make a statement. [23169]
Mr. Nicholas Baker: Civil defence arrangements are made in the light of assessments of the risks faced by the United Kingdom. There has been no significant change in that assessment of risk since November 1992, when the present arrangements were set in place.
Animal Procedures Committee
Mr. Congdon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what appointments he has made recently to the Animal Procedures Committee. [24310]
Mr. Nicholas Baker: I have appointed the following persons to be members of the Animal Procedures Committee for four years with effect from 1 May:
(i) Miss Cindy Millburn , special projects director, World Society for the Protection of Animals.
(ii) Dr. Jacqueline Southee, manager, In-vitro Toxicology, Microbiological Associates Ltd.
(iii) Mr. Les Ward, director, Advocates for Animals.
Cycling (Footpaths)
Mr. Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions there have been for cycling on footpaths in (a) the London borough of Newham, and (b) London, in each of the past five years for which records are available. [23154]
Mr. Maclean: The information is given in the table. 1994 data will not be available until autumn 1995.
Number of defendants prosecuted for cycling on footpaths<1>
within
the Metropolitan police,City of Londonand Newham areas
and England and Wales 1989-1993
Area |1989|1990|1991|1992|1993
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Police Force Area
Metropolitan Police District |5 |8 |31 |12 |35
City of London |- |- |3 |4 |3
Newham Area
Stratford Petty Sessional Division |- |- |- |- |-
West Ham Petty Sessional Division |- |- |- |- |-
|----|----|----|----|----
England and Wales |453 |483 |333 |313 |291
<1> An offence under the Highway Act 1985, section 72, and the
Metropolitan Police Act 1939, section 54(7) and byelaws.
Police Training
Mr. Mike O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are his estimates for the cost of training needed to enable the police in England and Wales to be fully aware of the provisions of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994; and what funding has been made available to police authorities for such training. [23050]
Mr. Maclean: The extent to which police officers need to be trained in relation to the provisions of this Act is a matter for individual chief officers to determine. Centrally
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produced training material has been made available, free of charge, to all forces; the costs of delivering any training considered necessary will be met from existing police budgets.Driving without Insurance
Mr. French: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many of those convicted of driving without insurance were immediately disqualified in each of the last three years; [23268] (2) how many of those convicted of driving without insurance received an endorsement of six or more penalty points in each of the last three years. [23267]
Mr. Maclean: The following table gives the available information which relates to the number of convictions for "using a motor vehicle uninsured against third-party risks" in England and Wales for the years 1991 to 1993. Figures for 1994 are not available.
Convictions for using a motor vehicle uninsured against
third-party risks
|Endorsements-without
|Total |disqualification-with
|disqulifications |six
|imposed |or more penalty
|points
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1991 |19,387 |108,638
1992 |20,762 |125,771
1993 |25,570 |143,818
Immigration
Mr. Madden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the application made to the United Kingdom post in Islamabad by Mr. Mohammad Rashid and Mrs. Anwar Jahn Rashid--ref: V95/000618--to visit the United Kingdom was referred to him; when it was received; if a recommendation has now been made; and if he will make a statement. [23052]
Mr. Nicholas Baker: This application was not referred to the Home Office for decision or recommendation, but for information to assist the entry clearance officer to reach a decision. The request was received by telex on 24 January, and information was dispatched on 6 March.
Identity Cards
Mr. Mike O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of how frequently identity cards with photographs would need to be replaced. [23068]
Mr. Nicholas Baker: We shall be publishing a consultation document about identity cards soon which, among other things, will address this issue.
Liquor Licensing
Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of (a) public houses and (b) other licensed properties in (i) 1980,(ii) 1985, (iii) 1990 and (iv) 1994. [23269]
Mr. Michael Forsyth: The available information on licensed premises is published in table 1 of the Home Office "Statistical Bulletin", issue 4/93, "Liquor Licensing Statistics, England and Wales, July 1991 June 1992", a copy of which is in the Library. Information on
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liquor licensing is collected only once every three years on the licences in force in the year of collection and in the previous year.Police Deaths
Mr. Mike O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list names of persons convicted of killing police officers since 1960 (a) who are still serving imprisonment together with the date when they are next considered for release on licence and (b) who have been released, with the date of that release; and if he will state for each offender the identity of the officer killed and the dates of the crime and of the sentence. [22896]
Mr. Michael Forsyth: I will write to the hon. Member.
Community Service Orders
Mr. Thurnham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offenders have served more than two community service orders; and what plans he has to set a maximum on the number of such orders that can be served before a custodial sentence must be imposed. [22520]
Mr. Nicholas Baker: A sample of offenders convicted in 1993 suggests that about 3,700 who receive a community service order had been sentenced to community service on at least two previous occasions. It is for the sentencing court to decide whether or not a custodial sentence is justified in the light of all the circumstances before it, having regard to the provisions of the Criminal Justice Act 1991 as amended. Those provisions enable the court to take account of the offender's failure to respond to previous sentences.
Mr. Thurnham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps his Department is taking to improve community service orders and to ensure that breaches of such orders are properly punished. [22521]
Mr. Nicholas Baker: On 9 March, my right hon. and learned Friend published revised national standards for the supervision of offenders in the community, which tighten up the way in which community service orders must be run and enforced. A copy of the 1995 standards is in the Library.
Criminal Injuries Compensation
Mr. Butler: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to introduce legislation dealing with criminal injuries compensation. [24309]
Mr. Howard: I have today introduced the Criminal Injuries Compensation Bill.
The Bill provides a power to establish a new criminal injuries compensation scheme. It also repeals the provisions in the Criminal Justice Act 1988, which, if implemented, would have put the old, common law damages scheme on to a statutory footing.
Following the judgment of the Judicial Committee of the House of Lords, which was delivered on 5 April, I have been giving very careful thought to the arrangements which should be made for compensating those who have the misfortune to be injured as a result of a crime of violence.
The judgment related to the method of introduction of the tariff scheme, not its merits. The effect of the
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judgment was to require the 1990 common law damages scheme to be reinstated in place of the tariff based approach introduced on 1 April 1994. The costs of the common law damages scheme have risen very substantially since the scheme was first introduced in 1964 and more than doubled in real terms between 1987 88 and 1993 94. Although improvements have been made in administration of the scheme, we believe that a tariff- based approach offers greater scope for further improvement and the speedier settlement of cases. I remain of the view, therefore, that steps need to be taken to constrain future expenditure and to ensure that a quicker service is provided. This cannot be achieved within the framework of a system based entirely upon common law principles. I remain therefore of the view that the 1990 common law damages scheme should be replaced by a new tariff-based approach.I have, however, considered very carefully the concerns which have been expressed about the effect which such an approach may have on those who are most seriously injured. We all have immense sympathy for such victims and the Government are anxious to do all that they can to safeguard the position of victims. I have therefore come to the view that the tariff- based approach should be enhanced to provide payment for loss of earnings and special care for those who are incapacitated for more than 28 weeks-- the period during which statutory sick pay is payable. I also propose that there should be provision for loss of dependency/support in fatal cases. In addition, I propose that structured settlements should be available: these will greatly help those receiving the higher awards by providing a guaranteed, index-linked, tax-free income for life, thus considerably increasing the net benefit of the award for many victims. I believe that a scheme of this sort will be fair while at the same time providing a mechanism for controlling future expenditure. Further details of the proposed scheme are set out in a paper entitled "Criminal Injuries Compensation: proposals for a Tariff Based Scheme" which has been placed in the Library and the Vote Office.
Ours is the most generous compensation scheme in the world. We pay out more compensation than all other European countries added together. That will remain the case under our new proposals.
TRANSPORT
Aircraft (Electronic Interference)
Sir Peter Fry: To ask the Secretary of Statefor Transport if he will ask the Civil Aviation Authority to undertake an urgent investigation into the interference in aircraft navigation and other systems in flightcaused by (a) laptop computer and (b) other electrical devices. [23143]
Mr. Norris: The Civil Aviation Authority participates, with the Defence Research Agency and representatives of the airline and aerospace manufacturing industry, in the Electro Magnetic Compatibility Club. The assistance and advice of the club has been sought on the subject of passengers' portable electronic equipment. The CAA's research programme currently includes a project to extend this work to include passengers' mobile telephones.
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Illegal Operations Working Group
Mr. Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what initiatives the illegal operations working group has taken forward over the last 12 months; and what recommendations it has published. [24050]
Mr. Norris: Initiatives which the group has been taking forward are detailed in an annual report which has today been circulated to those organisations with an interest in goods vehicle enforcement. A copy of the group's 1994 report has been placed in the Library of the House.
ENVIRONMENT
Conservation Sites
Mr. Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the consequences of farm land being designated as a special area of conservation under the EU habitats directive. [22139]
Mr. Atkins: The regulations implementing the habitats directive are based in the existing provisions applying to sites of special scientific interest. In the vast majority of cases, the nature conservation interests for which sites on land will be selected as special areas of conservation will be very similar to those for which these sites will already be protected as SSSIs. In most cases, management measures which have conserved these sites in the past as SSSIs will continue to be appropriate when they become SACs. The Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994 introduce the following measures for European sites, including SACs: a duty on the statutory nature conservation agencies not to give consent to potentially damaging operations which will adversely affect the integrity of the site, and to offer a management agreement;
powers to review existing consents for potentially damaging operations;
powers for the statutory nature conservation agencies to make byelaws to control the activities of third parties;
powers for the Secretary of State to make special nature conservation orders, to prevent damage, which are not time limited; changes to planning law to give effect to the directive's requirements in terms of the consideration and approval of plans and projects likely to affect sites.
Mr. Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the requirements and benefits of designation as (a) a site of special scientific interest; (b) a special protection area; (c) a Ramsar site; (d) a national nature reserve and (e) a special area of conservation. [22138]
Mr. Atkins: The various designations indicate a site's national or international importance for nature conservation and the level of protection to be given to its wildlife and natural features under both wildlife and planning legislation. Each of the designations referred to by my hon. Friend plays its part in meeting th Government's commitment to sustainable development,
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and in particular to conserving the natural heritage for the benefit of this and future generations:(a) sites of special scientific interest are notified by English Nature under section 28 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 for their special interest by reason of their flora, fauna, or geological or physiographical features. SSSIs are protected from damaging operations and the notification is a material factor in the consideration of any development proposal that might affect the site;
(b) special protection areas are classified by my right hon. Friend under the EC wild birds directive to safeguard the habitats of bird species listed in annexe 1 to the directive and of regularly occurring migratory species;
(c) Ramsar sites are wetlands of international importance, which are designated by my right hon. Friend in fulfilment of the United Kingdom's obligations under the convention on wetlands of international importance, the Ramsar convention, to conserve wetlands and foster their wise use;
(d) national nature reserves are declared by English Nature under section 35 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Their essential characteristic is that their primary use is for nature conservation; (e) no special areas of conservation have yet been designated. A list of possible SACs is currently the subject of public consultation. SACs are to be sites hosting the natural habitat types and habitats of the species listed in the EC habitats and species directive. Member states are required to establish the necessary conservation measures which correspond to the ecological requirements of the site.
These designations are not mutually exclusive. Indeed, it is the Government's policy that SPAs, Ramsar sites, NNRs and SACs shall first be notified as SSSIs. Further details on these designations are given in planning policy guidance note 9, issued in October 1994, a copy of which is in the Library.
Housing Associations
Mr. Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion, by local authority in the west midlands, of the Housing Corporation's approved development programme for 1995 96 will be used by housing associations for rehabilitating existing properties (a) for rent and (b) for shared ownership; how many units of accommodation this will cover; and how this compares with his Department's original ADP funding intentions for 1995 96, as set out in the 1992 "Autumn Statement". [22720]
Mr. Robert B. Jones [holding answer 9 May 1995]: The table shows the proportion, by local authority in the west midlands, of the Housing Corporation's approved development programme for 1995 96 which will be used by housing associations for rehabilitating existing properties (a) for rent and (b) for shared ownership; and the related units of accommodation. No regional allocation was made of the 1995 96 ADP as set out in the 1992 "Autumn Statement".
West Midlands allocations 1995-96
Rental Shared
Accommodation Ownership<1>
|Total |Rehab |Per cent. |Total |Rehab |Per cent.
|allocation |Related |allocation |Related |Rehab |allocation |Related |allocation |Related |rehab
Local Authority |(£'000) |units |(£'000) |units |allocation |(£'000) |units |(£'000) |units |allocation
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Birmingham |1,182 |631 |489 |268 |41 |1,324 |96 |286 |19 |22
Bridgnorth |183 |10 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Bromsgrove |209 |10 |0 |0 |0 |54 |4 |0 |0 |0
Cannock Chase |320 |12 |320 |12 |100 |57 |4 |0 |0 |0
Coventry |1,587 |86 |644 |30 |41 |181 |15 |44 |5 |24
Dudley |1,030 |45 |991 |44 |96 |44 |5 |44 |5 |100
East Staffordshire |416 |24 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Hereford |463 |25 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Leominster |189 |10 |189 |10 |100 |50 |4 |0 |0 |0
Lichfield |450 |32 |0 |0 |0 |9 |2 |0 |0 |0
Malvern Hills |355 |16 |0 |0 |0 |52 |4 |0 |0 |0
Newcastle-under-Lyme |579 |19 |579 |19 |100 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
North Shropshire |233 |12 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
North Warwickshire |401 |27 |79 |4 |20 |85 |7 |0 |0 |0
Nuneaton and Bedworth |485 |21 |155 |7 |32 |36 |3 |0 |0 |0
Oswestry |205 |18 |0 |0 |0 |22 |2 |0 |0 |0
Redditch |191 |16 |39 |2 |21 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Rugby |273 |27 |120 |14 |44 |23 |2 |0 |0 |0
Sandwell |1,771 |83 |763 |38 |43 |189 |14 |18 |2 |9
Shrewsbury and Atcham |450 |32 |0 |0 |0 |189 |0 |0 |0 |0
Solihull |721 |39 |200 |10 |28 |111 |11 |0 |0 |0
South Herefordshire |239 |13 |0 |0 |0 |76 |6 |0 |0 |0
South Shropshire |220 |24 |220 |24 |100 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
South Staffordshire |363 |16 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Stafford |402 |20 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Staffordshire Moorlands |342 |18 |0 |0 |0 |81 |5 |81 |5 |100
Stoke-on-Trent |2,044 |130 |650 |44 |32 |53 |6 |53 |6 |100
Stratford-on-Avon |269 |12 |172 |7 |64 |35 |5 |0 |0 |0
Tamworth |203 |11 |38 |2 |19 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
The Wrekin |448 |38 |0 |0 |0 |66 |5 |66 |5 |100
Walsall |2,128 |107 |60 |4 |3 |251 |20 |0 |0 |0
Warwick |565 |27 |260 |12 |46 |81 |6 |0 |0 |0
Wolverhampton |1,692 |105 |610 |34 |36 |367 |30 |171 |15 |47
Worcester |432 |21 |0 |0 |0 |63 |5 |0 |0 |0
Wychavon |349 |14 |0 |0 |0 |34 |3 |0 |0 |0
Wyre Forest |800 |90 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
<1> Associations' development for shared ownership sale. Excludes do-it-yourself shared ownership.
Mr. Harry Greenway: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will call in the current planning application to Ealing council concerning Deyntes cottage, Northolt; and if he will make a statement. [23137]
Sir Paul Beresford: I am considering the case and will write to my hon. Friend shortly.
Surcharged Councillors
Mr. Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many councillors in England have been surcharged or prosecuted as a consequence of taking decisions in relation to the Local Government (Planning and Land) Act 1980; [23341]
(2) how many councillors in England havebeen surcharged or prosecuted as a consequence of taking decisions in relation to the Local Government Act 1988. [23342]
Mr. Curry: My Department does not keep records of such actions.
Local Authority Contracts
Mr. Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list by authority and service area the number of full-time equivalent job losses experienced by local authority direct labour/service organisations in England operating contracts under the terms of the Local Government Act 1988 for the financial years 1990 91, 1991 92, 1992 93 and 1993 94; [23333]
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(2) if he will list by authority and service area the number of full-time equivalent job losses experienced by local authority direct labour/service organisations in England operating contracts under the terms of the Local Government (Planning and Land) Act 1980 for the financial years 1990 91, 1991 92, 1992 93 and 1993 94. [23334]Mr. Curry: My Department does not keep this information.
Mr. Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list by service area the local authorities in England that have been challenged by his Department under regulations issued under section 9 of the Local Government Act 1992 in relation to their internal arrangements for establishing client/contractor splits. [23335]
Mr. Curry: Although we have received allegations of
anti-competitive behaviour by local authorities about the arrangements for establishing a client/contractor split, none has proceeded to statutory action. Records are not available by service area of the allegations which have been received.
Mr. Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many local authority direct labour/service organisations in England, operating contracts under the terms of the Local Government (Planning and Land) Act 1980 have achieved the required rate of return for the financial years 1992 93 and 1993 94;
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(2) how many local authority direct labour/service organisations in England, operating contracts under the terms of the Local Government Act 1988, have achieved the required rate of return for the financial years 1992 93 and 1993 94. [23338]Mr. Curry: For the financial year 1992 93, my Department recorded 2,409 accounts for direct service/labour organisations under the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 and Local Government Act 1988. Some 2,060 of these accounts--85.5 per cent.--recorded that the DLO or DSO had met the statutory financial objective.
For 1993 94, 2,381 accounts were received of which 2,057--86.4 per cent.-- recorded that the financial objectives had been met.
Mr. Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list by authority and service area the recorded deficits made by local authority direct labour/service organisations in England that have failed to meet the rate of return requirements operating contracts under the terms of the Local Government (Planning and Land) Act 1980 and the Local Government Act 1988, for the financial years 1990 91, 1991 92, 1992 93 and 1993 94 expressed in both absolute and percentage terms. [23336]
Mr. Curry: Three hundred and twenty-four--13.6 per cent.--of the 2, 381 local authority direct labour/service organisation accounts for 1993 94 received by my Department recorded a failure to meet the rate of return requirements.
For 1992 93, 2,409 accounts were received of which 349--14.5 per cent.-- recorded a failure to meet the rate of return requirements. For 1991 92, 2,260 accounts were received of which 320--14.2 per cent.--recorded a failure to meet the rate of return requirements. For 1990 91, just over 2,000 accounts were received of which 330--14.8 per cent.--recorded a failure to meet the rate of return requirements.
Detailed lists for the years 1991 92 to 1993 94 have been placed in the Library of the House. A list for 1990 91 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list, by authority, the surplus achieved on trading accounts for the financial years 1992 93 and 1993 94 for (a) general highways work, (b) construction and maintenance of sewers, (c) works of new construction and (d) maintenance work, delivered by local authorities' direct labour/service organisations in England under the terms of the Local Government (Planning and Land) Act 1980; [23320]
(2) if he will list, by authority, the surplus achieved on trading accounts for the financial years 1992 93 and 1993 94 for (a) refuse collection, (b) street cleaning, (c) building cleaning, (d) school and welfare catering, (e) other catering, (f) vehicle maintenance, (g) ground maintenance and (h) sports and leisure maintenance, delivered by local authorities' direct labour/service organisations in England under the terms of the Local Government Act 1988; [23321]
(3) if he will list, by authority and service area, as defined by the Local Government (Planning and Land) Act 1980, surpluses achieved by local authority direct labour/service organisations in England for the financial years 1992 93 and 1993 94;
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(4) if he will list, by authority and service area, as defined by the Local Government Act 1988, surpluses achieved by local authority direct labour/service organisations in England for the financial years 1992 93 and 1993 94. [23323]Mr. Curry: Some 2,074--87.1 per cent.--of the 2,381 local authority direct service/labour organisation accounts for 1993 94 received by my Department recorded surpluses. A detailed list has been placed in the Library of the House. Lists for 1992 93 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Sulphur Emissions
Mr. Butler: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is in a position to issue new sulphur emissions allocations under the national plan to large combustion plant in the other industry sector. [24262]
Mr. Atkins: The EC large combustion plant directive requires member states to draw up programmes for the progressive reduction of total annual emissions from existing plants of sulphur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen with the aim of complying with the ceilings and percentage reductions laid down in the directive. The UK national plan for meeting these commitments was made in 1990. Existing large combustion plant are, under the plan, grouped into three sectors: electricity supply, refineries, and the remaining plant grouped together as "other industry".
In the other industry sector it was expected that the replacement of existing plant with new plant would over time lead to a reduction in the sector allocations for permitted levels of SO emissions. This reduction has taken place more slowly than anticipated. As a result, forward allocations for 1996 exceeded the sector total in the national plan. Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution, which has responsibility for allocating the sector total between sites, therefore consulted last year on a revised method of allocation. Following that consultation, Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution has today issued revised allocations to sites in England and Wales for 1996, 1997 and 1998.
The existing national plan is likely to be superseded in due course by a wider national strategy aimed at delivering the UK's commitment under the second United Nations Economic Commission for Europe sulphur protocol. The targets under the protocol for an 80 per cent. reduction over 1980 levels in SO2 emissions from all sources by 2010 are likely to require some reduction in the existing national plan targets for total emissions in 1999 and subsequent years. We hope to consult later in the year on proposals for the new national strategy.
Climate Change Programme
Mr. Congdon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he will take to enhance the climate change programme following the recent announcement concerning the fossil fuel levy. [24305]
Mr. Gummer: My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade has announced that he proposes to privatise parts of Nuclear Electric during 1996, and at the same time to end payments from the fossil fuel levy to the company, ahead of the original schedule. Our climate change programme and recently published forecasts
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assumed the original schedule for the termination of these payments.Early termination will mean that electricity prices will fall sooner than anticipated, which may result in some corresponding increase in the output of carbon dioxide in the short term. I am determined to ensure that we sustain momentum for increased energy efficiency, and continue to give the strong lead we have established internationally on climate change, most recently at the first conference of parties to the climate change convention in Berlin. I am therefore pleased to announce that I shall make available to the Energy Saving Trust an additional £25 million a year to promote energy efficiency measures, from 1996 until the gas and electricity markets are fully liberalised.
Following my earlier announcement of support for its running costs, the Energy Saving Trust is currently drawing up new plans. I intend to invite the trust to use the coming year to prepare a number of cost-effective proposals for my consideration. I will make money available for the best ones within the £25 million ceiling. I shall be looking for innovative pump-priming schemes involving all fuels, which require funding to get started and which are designed to take advantage of and enhance the effectiveness of the developing competitive markets for energy and energy services. I shall be looking for a positive emphasis on demand-side management measures and on the development of energy services companies.
LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT
Historical Documents
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what advice he gives to Departments concerning the training of persons with responsibility for assessing the historical significance of documents held in those Departments. [23180]
Mr. John M. Taylor: Guidance is issued by the Keeper of Public Records. Section 3(2) of the Public Records Act 1958 prescribes that every person responsible for public records shall perform his duties under such guidance, which is detailed in the Public Record Office's "Manual of Records Administration".
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what special training is given to persons who have responsibility for assessing the historical significance of documents held by his Department. [23283]
Mr. John M. Taylor: Training in assessing the historical significance of departmental records is carried out under the guidance of the Keeper of Public Records. It is provided in a number of different ways, including courses on the appraisal of records and through conferences and seminars arranged by the Public Record Office.
Female Poll Tax and Fine Defaulters
Ms Janet Anderson: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many cases of women being gaoled for poll tax and fine default have had those convictions ruled unlawful in the High Court since 1989. [23151]
Column 566
Mr. John M. Taylor: The question concerns a specific operational matter on which the chief executive of the Court Service is best placed to provide an answer and I have accordingly asked the chief executive to reply direct.
Letter from M. Huebner to Ms Janet Anderson, dated 10 May 1995 : The Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, has asked me to reply to your question about the number of convictions which have been ruled unlawful by the High Court involving women gaoled for poll tax and fine default.
I am sorry to have to tell you that this information is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
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