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ENVIRONMENT
Industrial Waste
Mr. Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what new steps he is taking to maximise the recycling of industrial waste materials; [24987]
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(2) what plans he has to encourage the minimisation of industrial waste. [24989]Mr. Atkins: The "Waste Strategy for England and Wales", a consultation draft published in January 1995, sets out the steps the Government are taking to minimise the production of and maximise the recycling of industrial waste materials. A copy is in the Library.
Mr. Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of industrial waste is recycled. [24988]
Mr. Atkins: The "Waste Strategy for England and Wales", a consultation draft published in January 1995, includes an estimate that approximately 18 per cent. of industrial waste in the UK is recycled or re- used--table 1.2, page 6. A copy is in the Library.
Mr. Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he next expects to meet representatives from local authorities to discuss waste minimisation and recycling issues. [24990]
Mr. Atkins: Representatives from local authorities have regular meetings with the Department to discuss a wide range of waste related issues, including proposals set out in the draft "Waste Strategy for England and Wales".
Local Government Reorganisation
Mr. Frank Cook: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has made of the additional administrative staff who will be required by the four unitary authorities created as a result of local government reorganisation in Cleveland. [25219]
Mr. Curry: Staffing structures are a matter for the newly elected councils.
Mr. Frank Cook: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consultations he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer about both the transitional and continuing administrative costs of the reorganisation in Cleveland; and what was the outcome of those consultations. [25218]
Mr. Curry: Government decisions are collective. The Cleveland (Structural Change) Order 1995, which implements reorganisation in Cleveland, was made on 30 January.
Mr. Frank Cook: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the views he has received from the business community in the Teesside area, prior to and since the decision to divide the Teesside conurbation among three unitary authorities. [25224]
Mr. Curry: Following publication of the Local Government Commission's final recommendations for Cleveland, we received representations from the local business community both in support of and opposing the commission's proposals. We took these into account, together with other representations, when we decided to put the Cleveland (Structural Change) Order 1995 before the House.
European Regional Development Fund
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment at what stage is Teesside airport's bid to gain the funding from the ERDF; and what guidelines he proposes to issue in respect of future bids by airports for funds from the ERDF. [24979]
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Sir Paul Beresford: The application from Teesside airport for ERDF grant is being considered alongside other bids which have been submitted under the north-east objective 2 structural funds programme for funding. There are no proposals to issue guidelines in respect of future bids by airports for funds from ERDF.
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has made to the European Commission to reconsider the priority that airports have within the European regional development fund. [24976]
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what (a) European and (b) national alternatives there are for bidders who fail to gain funds for capital projects from the European regional development fund through overbidding. [24978]
Sir Paul Beresford: Competitive bidding for resources available under the structural funds programme plays a major part in ensuring good value for money. Bids for European regional development fund grants have generally exceeded the resources available under current programmes. This has helped to ensure that grant has been made only to those projects which best met the aims and objectives of each programme. Bids which fail to gain ERDF funding may be eligible to receive resources available under other European or national programmes. However, this will depend very much on the activity concerned and whether this is eligible for support under a particular programme.
Staff
Ms Hodge: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many posts were lost in (a) the Department of the Environment and (b) agencies for which the Department of the Environment is responsible, listing the total lost posts agency by agency in (i) 1993 94 and (ii) 1994 95; and how many posts are proposed to be lost in 1995 96. [25076]
Sir Paul Beresford: The numbers of staff employed by my Department and each of its executive agencies in 1993 94 and 1994 95, and plans for 1995 96, are published in my Department's annual report, a copy of which is in the Library of the House. This shows the reduction of posts between years.
Pollution
Mrs. Helen Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list by volume, and rivers affected, the annual discharges from abandoned mines and tips in the Yorkshire National Rivers Authority area. [24909]
Mr. Atkins [holding answer 22 May 1995]: The information requested, so far as it is available, has been provided by the National Rivers Authority and is as follows:
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Discharges from abandoned mines and tips in the southern Yorkshire NRA area Location |Type |Receiving river |Volume of ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Clayton West |AM |Dearne Tributary |1,360 Silkstone |AM |Banks Bottom Dyke |not known Flockton |AM |Flockton Beck Tributary |not known Flockton |TL |Flockton Beck Tributary |not known Dodworth |TL |Silkstone Beck Tributary|not known Wath on Dearne |CL |Groundwater |not known Killamarsh |TL |Park Brook |not known Upstream of Silkstone Sewage Treatment Works |AM |Silkstone Beck |not known Wooley |PM |Dearne |17,000 Sheffield |CL |Rother |not known Chesterfield |CL |Rother |not known North Doncaster |TL |Swan Sike Drain |not known A1 North of Doncaster |TL |Groundwater |not known Castleford |CL |Carr Beck |not known Thornton |AM |Pitty Beck |not known Todmorden |AM |Mitgelde Brook/Calder |1,000 Todmorden |AM |Beater Clough/Calder |500 Holmfirth |AM |Calder |1,000 Chesterfield |AM |Hipper |60 Dronfield |AM |Barlow Brook |1,100 Dronfield |AM |Drone |1,100 Dronfield |AM |Drone |45 Dronfield |AM |Drone |1,100 Dronfield |AM |Drone |25 Chesterfield |AM |Whitting |110 Chesterfield |AM |County Dike |45 Chesterfield |AM |Drone Tributary |50 Chesterfield |AM |Rother |100 Chesterfield |AM |Hipper |50 Chesterfield |AM |Rother |40 Chesterfield |AM |Redlead Mill Brook |50 Chesterfield |AM |Whitting |50 Penistone |AM |Don |2,900 Stocksbridge |AM |Little Don |1,000 Sheffield |AM |Don |500 Stocksbridge |AM |Don |200 Sheffield |AM |Don |200 Sheffield |AM |Loxley |100 Notes: Type of discharge. AM Abandoned Minewater. TL Tip Leachate. CL Contaminated Land. PM Pumped Minewater.
Mrs. Helen Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many court actions were taken in each of the last three years by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution; what were the gross and net legal costs of Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution in each of the past three years; how many of the court actions taken by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution in each of the last three years resulted in prosecution and fines; and what were the total fines imposed by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution in respect of pollution incidents in each of the past three years. [25778]
Mr. Atkins: The tables give details of the court actions taken by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution in each of the financial years 1992 93, 1993 94 and 1994 95. Fines imposed by the courts and details of costs are also included. All this information is available in HMIP's annual reports, the latest one of which, for the year 1994 95, is due for publication on 21 July. When considering what level of enforcement action to take, HMIP considers not only the environmental consequences and operator culpability, but whether it will be sufficient to ensure that remedial action to prevent a recurrence is carried out. Prosecution is not the only solution in every case, as HMIP endeavours to make the level of enforcement action proportionate to the offence. Enforcement may take the form of a letter of admonishment, an enforcement notice, a prohibition notice, prosecution or even revocation of the authorisation.
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HMIP prosecutions 1992-1993 (1 April-31 March)
Division |Name |Act |Offence |Date of hearing |Verdict |Fine |Cost
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
West |Bloxham Laboratories |HSW 1974 |Failure to comply with conditions of |28 April 1992 |G |£750 |£500
|registration to ensure supervision of
|the competent use of radioactive material
East |Harrow Health Authority |HSW 1974 |Failure to use the best practicable |5 May 1992 |G |£1,000 |£3,468.75
|means to operating incineration plant.
East |Esselte Letraset |RSA 1960 |Failure to comply with condition of |29 June 1992 |G |£100 |£1,000
|registration to prevent unauthorised
|access to a radioactive source
East |Foster Yeoman |1906 alkali |Operating without a certificate of registration.|2 July 1992 |G |£3,000 |£2,000
East |White Mountain Roadstone |HSW 1974 |Failure to use the best practicable means |9 July 1992 |G |£500 |£1,000
|means in operating roadstone coating plant
North |Gath Drums (Shipley) Ltd. |HSW 1974 |Failure to comply with two |26 August 1992 |G |Conditional discharge |£3,905
|improvement notices
West |Xidex (UK) Ltd. |RSA 1960 |Breach of conditions relating to |7 September 1992 |G |£6,000 |£5,000
|storage of radioactive material
West |British Coal |RSA 1960 |Breach of conditions relating to |12 October 1992 |G |£20,000 |£6,410
|storage of radioactive material.
North |Pozzolanic Lytag Ltd. |HSW 1974 |Failure to use best practicable means |21 October 1992 |G |£3,500 |£3,500
|to prevent emissions of noxious or
|offensive substances into the atmosphere.
West |British Steel |HSW 1974 |Failure to use best practicable means |26 October 1992 |G |£2,000 |£19,000
|to prevent emission of noxious or
|offensive substances.
West |Rhone-Poulenc |HSW 1974 |Failure to use the best practicable |16 November 1992 |G |£10,000 |£4,048
|means to prevent emission of sulphur
|dioxide from their sulphuric acid plant.
West |West Midlands |RSA 1960 |Breaching 17 offences under Section |18 December 1992 |G |£51,000 |£8,000
|Regional Health |13(1)(c) of the RSA.
|Authority
East |Knauf UK |HSW 1974 |Failure to use BPM to prevent |26 January 1993 |G |£1,500 |£3,270
|unfiltered processed gypsum from
|escaping into the atmosphere.
West |Brookridge |EPA 1990 |First HMIP prosecution under EPA |16 March 1993 |G |£1,650 |£3,000
|Timber Ltd |1990. Breach of Section 6(1) and
|section 23(1)--using a toxic substance
|without authorisation.
Summary detail:
Total prosecutions: 14.
Total fines: £101,000.
Total costs: £64,101.75.
HMIP Prosecutions 1993-1994 (1 April-31 March)
Region |Name |Act |Offence |Date of hearing |Verdict |Fine |Cost
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Anglian |Nichols Institute |RSA 1960 |Breach of conditions relating to |6 April 1993 |G |£10,000 |£2,726
|Diagnostics |accumulation of radioactive waste
|without authorisation.
Southern and HMNII |UK Atomic |RSA 1960 |Failure to use BPM to limit the |16 April 1993 |G |£5,000 |N/A
|Energy Authority |activity of radioactive waste released
|and to make a record of the means
|employed.
Wales |Evans Group Ltd. |Alkali Act |Failure to apply for registration for |17 May 1993 |G |£6,000 |£5,000
|1906 and |crushing equipment operated on site
|HSW 74 |and failure to apply BPM to prevent
|emissions into the atmosphere.
Anglian |Plessey GEC |RSA 1960 |Holding a radioactive source without a |17 May 1993 |G |£1,000 |£2,261
|Semiconductors Ltd. |certificate of registration.
Anglian |Essex University |RSA 1960 |Exceeding their authorised limit for |21 May 1993 |G |£800 |£2,651
|the incineration of radioactive waste.
North West |North West |HSW 1974 |Failure to use BPM to prevent the |7 January 1994 |G |£8,000 |£11,000
|Aggregates Ltd. |release of offensive and noxious
|fumes.
Wales |Glan Clwyd |RSA 1960 |Unauthorised disposal of radioactive waste.|9 February 1994 |G |£5,500 |£1,775
|District Hospital
|NHS Trust
Southern |National Power |EPA 1990 |Two offences involving discharges of |16 February 1994 |G |£7,500 |£13,248
|Littlebrook "D" |oil to the River Thames.
|Power Station
South West |ICI Nitram |HSW 1974 |Failure to use BPM to prevent |18 February 1994 |G |£2,000 |£9,195.18
|Plant, |discharge of ammonia to atmoshphere.
|Severnside,
|Bristol
Summary Detail:
Total prosecutions: 9
Total fines: £45,800
Total costs: £47,856
HMIP prosecutions 1994-95 (1 April-year to date)
Region |Name |Act |Offence |Date of hearing |Verdict |Fine |Costs
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Midlands |AGA Gas Ltd., |EPA 1990 |Operation of an unauthorised |10 May 1994 |G |£10,000 |£5,135
|Bardon Filling |acetylene plant.
|Plant, Leics
Midlands |Wednesbury |HSW 1974 |Failure to use BPM to prevent the |11 May 1994 |G |£4,000 |£1,540
|Tubes Ltd., |emission into the atmosphere of
|Bilston, W |noxious or offensive substances.
|Midlands
Southern |Acal Auriema, |RSA 1960 |Two charges-failure to hold an |20 May 1994 |G |£14,000 |£2,842.61
|Slough |/IRR 1985 |authorisation certificate to collect
|/HSW 1974 |waste radioactive sources for
|disposal/damage of a waste source.
Southern |Drum Laundry |EPA 1990 |Failure to prevent a release to |20 June 1994 |G |£5,000 |£5,000
|Services Ltd., |controlled waters.
North East |Safety-Kleen |EPA 1990 |Failure to prevent a release to |5 September 1994 |G |£7,500 |£6,040
|UK Ltd., |contolled waters.
|Rotheram
Southern |Enichem |EPA 1990 |Failure to use BATNEEC to prevent |9 November 1994 |G |£5,000 |£12,062
|Elastomers Ltd., |anunauthorised release of styrene.
|Hythe,
|Hampshire
North East |British Coal, |RSA 1993 |Breach of RSA93 over the loss of a |14 November 1994 |G |£5,000 |£7,561
|Wearmouth |radioactive source.
Wales |Coalite Products |EPA 1990 |Exceedance of ammonia release limits |21 November 1994 |G |£22,500 |£10,000
|Ltd., Beddau |for discharges to controlled waters.
South West |Rhone-Poulenc |HSW 1974 |Failure to use BPM to prevent an |28 November 1994 |G |£12,000 |£5,400
|Chemicals Ltd., |unauthorised release of ammonia.
South |CET Flexitec Ltd. |RSA 1993 |Failure to comply with registration |30 November 1994 |G |£7,000 |£2,500
|conditiion relating to storage of
|radioactive source.
South |Southern Refining |EPA 1990 |Failure to comply with conditions of |5 December 1994 |G |£12,000 |£6,571.85
|Services Ltd. |authorisation.
North West |Vinamul Ltd. |EPA 1990 |Unauthorised escape of substances and|31 January 1995 |G |£19,000 |£13,716
|failure to ensure control during
|production.
North East |ICI Wilton |EPA 1990 |Failure to prevent an unauthorised |2 February 1995 |G |£10,000 |£10,250
|release of degraded organic peroxide.
North East |Hickson Fine |EPA 1990 |Failure to prevent a release to |13 February 1995 |G |£5,000 |£10,694.50
|Chemical |controlled waters.
Anglian |IGE Medical |RSA 1993 |Loss of radioactive source. |24 February 1995 |G |£5,000 |£5,754.75
|Systems
Summary detail:
Total prosections: 15.
Total fines to date: £143,000.
Total costs: £105,066.71.
Mrs. Helen Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many court actions were taken in each of the last three years in total and in each authority area by the waste regulation authorities; what was the gross and net costs to each waste regulation authority and in total of legal action taken in each of the past three years; what were the total fines imposed by each waste regulation authority and in total in respect of pollution incidents in each of the past three years; and how many of the court actions taken by waste regulation authorities in each of the past three years resulted in a prosecution and fine. [25779]
Mr. Atkins: The information requested is not held centrally. Information on the number and description of prosecutions brought by waste regulation authorities under part II of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 must be included in the annual reports authorities are required to publish under section 67 of the Act. Authorities are required to publish their reports within six months of the end of each financial year and the first such reports will be those for the financial year 1994 95.
Contracting Out
Ms Hodge: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what work has been contracted out (a) by his Department and (b) by agencies for which his Department is responsible in (i) 1993 94, (ii) 1994 95 and (iii) projected for 1995 96; [25524]
(2) for each piece of work subject to a bidding process under the auspices of (a) the Department of the Environment and (b) agencies for which the Department is responsible where work was contracted out who were the successful bidders; and which contracts were won by in-house bidders in (i) 1993 94, (ii) 1994 95 and(iii) projected for 1995 96. [25526]
Sir Paul Beresford: Under the competing for quality programme, results during the 1 October 1993 to30 September 1994 market testing year are:
Department of the
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Security guarding:
(daytime hours) |Royal British Legion Attendants Co. Ltd.
(silent hours) |Security Facilities Executive
Management Audit Services |In-house team
Construction research:
Ventilation of underground car parks |TBV Science
Scoping study for HVAC system |Centre for Configurational Studies
|-The Open University
Water economy |BSRIA
Identification and development |Four Elements Ltd.
of source data for fire risk
assessments, part 1
Identification and development | Fire SERT Centre (University of
of source data for fire risk |Ulster)
assessments, part 2
Alternative aggregates |Mott MacDonald Consultants
Fire resistance behaviour |Trada Technology
trussed rafters
Performance of emulsion preservatives |Building Research Establishment
Sprinkler system cost benefit study |Building Research Establishment
Comparative strength of masonry walls |Building Research Establishment
Agencies |Successful tenderer
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Security Facilities Executive:
Cleaning of Ponton Road premises |Mayfair Window Cleaning Co Ltd.
Inter-Departmental Despatch Service |In-house team
Planning Inspectorate
Secretarial and typing |In-house team
Building Research Establishment:
Office and printing services |In-house team
Audio Visual |In-house team
1994-95 Department of the |Successful tenderer Environment --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Construction Research Organically coated metal phase 2 |BDA Masonry clad steel frame buildings |Taywoods Timber panels |CERAM Assessment of ground defamation |Building Research Establishment properties Notes: No other results are available, and no results can be projected for 1995-96. Results of market tests are published in the monthly Market Testing Bulletin, copies of which are available in the House of Commons Library.
Contaminated Land
Mr. Harry Greenway: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what arrangements he has made in regard to the allocation of capital resources for local authorities to tackle contaminated land in 1995 96. [26101]
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Mr. Atkins: The Department of the Environment has today written to 49 local authorities and waste disposal authorities informing them of the Secretary of State's intention to issue supplementary credit approvals for 1995 96 totalling nearly £8 million in respect of capital expenditure on 109 new projects to investigate or carry our remedial work to contaminated land.
The Department has already written to 40 authorities about making SCAs totalling £6.7 million available this year in respect of 127 on-going projects from previous years.
Between 1990 91 and 1993 94 SCAs worth nearly £40 million were issued to enable work to be undertaken on over 800 contaminated sites. A figure for SCAs spent for 1994 95 is not yet available as authorities are in the process of submitting final returns for that financial year.
The SCA programme for contaminated land is aimed at tackling problems on sites in local authority ownership or where they have responsibility to take action and cannot recover their costs. The Department operates an assessment and prioritisation procedures to ensure that the available funding goes to projects representing the greatest threat to health or the environment.
Local Government Commission
Mr. Haselhurst: To ask the Secretary of Statefor the Environment what decisions he has reachedon the Local Government Commission's final recommendations on electoral, boundary and other non-structural matters. [26203]
Mr. Curry: The Local Government Commission made a number of recommendations on boundary and electoral matters in its final reports on the future of local government in the shire countries of England. My right hon. Friend has now reached decisions on these recommendations.
Among other factors, he has had regard to the possible interaction between these recommendations and the programme of fresh structure reviews of individual districts which he announced on 2 March. Where the commission has recommended further reviews of boundaries or electoral arrangements he has considered the implications for the commission's programme of periodic electoral reviews and other work. In each case he has considered the commission's reports and the representations he has received, and is satisfied that these decisions will best reflect the identities and interests of local communities and will best secure effective and convenient local government.
My right hon. Friend accepts the recommendations made for a boundary change in Gloucestershire between the parishes of West Dean and Coleford in the district of the Forest of Dean, and the consequential changes to parish, district and county electoral arrangements. He also accepts the recommended change in boundary between Colchester borough and Tendering district in the Wivenhoe area of Essex, the recommended re-warding of East Hertfordshire district and the recommended re-warding of Newbury district in Berkshire.
Basildon, Thurrock and Peterborough will be subject to fresh district reviews. My right hon. Friend has already announced that the recommended boundary changes around Basildon which would transfer Wickford to Rochford and Billericay to Brentwood will not be acted upon pending the fresh reviews. It follows that he should
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defer a decision on the recommended changes in electoral representation in Wickford, Billericay, Basildon and the county, which are based on this boundary change. He considers that a decision on the electoral change recommended for Thurrock--an extra two councillors--should also await the fresh review. Similarly, in Peterborough, a decision on the recommended boundary change which would transfer the southern township area from Huntingdonshire to Peterborough will be made in the light of the outcome of the fresh review of Peterborough. He also expects the commission to look again at the re- warding of Peterborough as part of that review. In a number of cases the commission suggested it be directed to undertake further reviews. My right hon. Friend will be considering the case for undertaking a review of Cambridge City's boundaries in due course. As he has already announced, he will consider asking the commission to look again at the proposed boundary change around Southend airport. On electoral matters, the commission recommended an early review of electoral arrangements at district and county level in those areas of Essex affected by structural change, the six districts in Berkshire which will gain unitary status and the Suffolk Coastal district. He accepts the case for each of these, and will be discussing with the commission how they may be given priority in its programme of work.Decisions in principle on all the commission's structural recommendations have now been announced. Decisions on the remaining planning recommendations were announced on 11 April, and an announcement on the parishing recommendations will be made very shortly. Other matters, such as recommendations for police and fire service arrangements, flow directly from the structural decisions, and will be set out in draft orders for structural change which are the subject of consultation. Similarly, ceremonial matters will be covered in general regulations and in structural change orders which are subject to public consultation.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Official Gifts
Mr. Tony Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those gifts received by Ministers in their official capacities and reported to the Permanent Secretary in each of the last five years. [23783]
Mr. Goodlad: The details of gifts received by Ministers are not made public. Their retention or disposal is dealt with in accordance with "Questions of Procedure for Ministers".
Nuclear Safety
Mr. Maclennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he will take to support the international action plan and fund proposed by Norway to address (a) safety at nuclear installations, (b) the sound management of nuclear waste and (c) problems associated with the dumping of nuclear waste and arms-related environmental hazards in the Kola peninsula. [25182]
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Mr. Douglas Hogg: We share Norway's concerns about nuclear safety and radioactive waste management problems in Russia. The majority of international assistance in this area is currently focused on improving the safety of nuclear reactors. Our main contributions to these efforts are channelled through the European Union's PHARE and TACIS programmes, as well as the G7 multilateral programme of action. As projects in these nuclear safety related programmes begin to bear fruit, increasing emphasis is likely to be placed on the specific problem of radioactive waste management.
Immigration
Mr. Madden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance is being offered to Mrs. Abida Noreen and her daughter, Muneeza Khan (Ref: Imm/C8970) by the United Kingdom post in Islamabad to return as residents of the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [25699]
Mr. Baldry: I have asked the high commission at Islamabad for details and will arrange for the hon. Member to receive a substantive reply from the migration and visa correspondence unit as soon as possible.
Intergovernmental Conference
Mr. Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the main constitutional issues on the Government's agenda for the 1996 inter-governmental conference. [25776]
Mr. David Davis: We shall not make proposals at the 1996 intergovernmental conference which would involve significant constitutional change. We will also, as my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said on 23 May, block any attempt to extend Community competence into intergovernmental areas such as foreign affairs, defence and home affairs.
NORTHERN IRELAND
Police Order
Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether comments on the draft proposals to change the Police (Northern Ireland) Order will be placed in the Library at the conclusion of the period of consultation on 6 June. [24322]
Sir John Wheeler: No substantive comments on the draft order have yet been received. I will, however, keep the suggestion under review, bearing in mind that some comments may be offered on a confidential basis.
Housing Benefit
Mr. McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to introduce into Northern Ireland proposals in relation to the capping of housing benefit similar to those made for England and Wales. [24749]
Sir John Wheeler: The implications for Northern Ireland of the proposals for amending the housing benefit scheme in Great Britain are currently being considered.
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Account will be taken of the different arrangements in Northern Ireland for administering the housing benefit scheme.Health Service Contracts
Mr. Trimble: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on all contracts placed by (a) each health board and (b) each health trust with Grafton Recruitment. [24505]
Mr. Moss [holding answer 17 May 1995]: There are currently 52 nursing agencies licensed by the Department, of which two have been issued in respect of Grafton Recruitment. Information on contracts placed by the health and personal social services with these agencies is not held centrally, but by individual health and social services boards and trusts.
Majority Shareholdings
Mr. Byers: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list those companies in which the holder of his office is the majority shareholder which (a) are currently in existence and (b) have been wound up in the past five years. [25711]
Mr. Ancram [holding answer 22 May 1995]: None in either category.
DUCHY OF LANCASTER
Advisory Committee on Business Appointments
Mr. Mullin: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many civil servants applied to the advisory committee on business appointments for approval for a job offer in the private sector in each of the last five years; and in how many cases the application was refused. [25016]
Mr. Horam: The information requested, including information on members of the diplomatic service, is set out in the table. Separate applications must be submitted for each appointment or consultancy commission an individual wishes to accept. Under the business appointment rules applications cannot be rejected outright, but approval may be made subject to behavioural conditions or to waiting periods of up to a maximum of two years.
Number of applications (number of applicants)
Financial year |Unconditionally|Conditionally |Total
|approved |approved
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1990-91 |12 |9 |21 (16)
1991-92 |17 |14 |31 (21)
1992-93 |11 |25 |36 (20)
1993-94 |8 |15 |23 (13)
1994-95 |13 |17 |30 (16)
Note:
The figures in brackets refer to the number of individuals who applied; all
other figures refer to the number of applications received.
Nr. Mullen: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list by name and profession the members of the advisory committee on business appointments. [25017]
Mr. Horam: The members of the Prime Minister's advisory committee on business appointments are:
The right hon. the Lord Carlisle of Bucklow QC--Chairman
The Lord Bridges GCMG--Deputy Chairman
Sir John Blelloch KCB
Sir Denys Henderson
Sir Charles Huxtable KCB CBE
Sir Robin Ibbs KBE
The right hon. Peter Shore MP
The right hon. the Lord Thomson of Monifieth KT
Lord Carlisle, Lord Thomson and Mr. Peter Shore are senior parliamentarians and former Ministers. Lord Bridges is a retired diplomat; Sir John Blelloch is a retired senior civil servant; Sir Charles Huxtable is a retired senior army officer; Sir Robin Ibbs is chairman of Lloyds Bank plc; and Sir Denys Henderson is chairman of the Rank Organisation.
Mr. Mullin: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list by Government Department the number of civil servants who have applied to the advisory committee on business appointments for approval to take a job in the private sector in each of the last five years. [25018]
Mr. Horam: The number of civil servants, including members of the diplomatic service, who have applied to the advisory committee for approval to take a job in the private sector in each of the last five financial years is set out in the table:
Number of
applicants
|1990-91|1991-92|1992-93|1993-94|1994-95
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cabinet Office |2 |0 |2 |1 |1
Ministry of Defence |4 |2 |1 |2 |1
Department for Education |0 |0 |0 |1 |1
Department of Employment |0 |1 |0 |0 |0
Department of Energy |0 |0 |0 |1 |0
Department of the Environment,
including PSA |1 |3 |1 |2 |1
Export Credits Guarantee Department |0 |1 |1 |0 |0
Foreign and Commonwealth Office |5 |9 |12 |3 |5
Department of Health |1 |0 |0 |1 |1
Home Office |0 |0 |0 |0 |1
Lord Chancellor's Department |0 |0 |1 |0 |0
Northern Ireland Office |0 |2 |0 |0 |0
Scottish Office |0 |0 |1 |0 |0
Department of Social Security |0 |0 |0 |0 |1
Department of Trade and Industry |1 |1 |1 |1 |1
Department of Transport |0 |1 |0 |0 |2
Her Majesty's Treasury |2 |1 |0 |1 |1
Dance and Drama
9. Mr. Fisher: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she has met the Secretary of State for National Heritage to discuss the future of dance and drama training. [23818]
Mr. Boswell: My right hon. Friend has done so.
Higher Education Review
14. Sir Fergus Montgomery: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what are the aims of her departmental review of higher education. [23824]
Mr. Boswell: My right hon. Friend is reviewing the aims and purposes of higher education with a view to determining its appropriate shape and size at the end of the century and beyond.
Mathematics and Engineering
15. Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to letters to the hon. Member for Linlithgow from the Minister of State, what proposals Her Majesty's Government have for relating mathematics teaching in schools to the requirements of the engineering profession as set out by the Engineering Council. [23825]
Mr. Forth: The mathematics curriculum is relevant to many professions, including engineering. As the hon. Member is aware, the Government are committed to higher standards and higher quality teaching in mathematics for all pupils.
History Teaching
16. Mr. Hawkins: to ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans she has to review the teaching of history in schools. [23826]
School Funding
17. Mr. Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what representations she has received asking her for increased funding for school budgets in 1996 97. [23827]
Mr. Robin Squire: My. right hon. Friend has received a number of representations on school finances, many of which have requested increased funding for school budgets in 1995 96.
23. Mr. Skinner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many representations she has now received from (a) parents, (b) teacher and (c) governors regarding school funding for 1995 96. [23834]
Mr. Robin Squire: My right hon. Friend has received a number of such representations. It is not possible to break down this total into separate categories.
24. Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate she has made of the effect of a national funding formula for primary and secondary schools on financial distribution to local education authorities. [22835]
Column 537
Mr. Robin Squire: The detailed effects of a national funding formula would depend on how it was constructed. It is clear, however, that redistributing a national funding total using identical formula factors across the country would result in large numbers of schools gaining, and large number of schools losing compared with their existing levels of funding.
Selective Grammar Schools
18. Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will make a statement about the Government's policy towards selective grammar schools. [23828]
Mr. Robin Squire: The Government believe that schools which select pupils by ability, or which specialise in particular subjects, have an important part to play in giving parents a choice of schooling for their children.
Nursery Education
19. Mr. Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment she has made of the need for nursery education in Hampshire. [23829]
Mr. Forth: It is for local education authorities to determine the need for education provision for children below compulsory school age.
22. Sir David Madel: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what are her future plans for the development of nursery education; and if she will make a statement. [23832]
Mr. Forth: My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has set a target to provide, over time, a pre-school place for all four-year-olds whose parents wish to take it up. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and the official task force have been consulting widely with a view to drawing up detailed proposals for the expansion.
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