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Mr. Watts: As at the end of April 1995, my Department held 324 dwellings which had been standing empty for more than six months and a further 504 had been standing empty for more than 12 months. Regular monitoring of the situation on empty dwellings takes place to try and ensure that tenants are found as quickly as possible for those dwellings which are vacant but lettable. We also constantly monitor all the properties in our portfolio so as to identify at the earliest possible opportunity those which are required for road schemes and therefore need to be demolished and those which can be declared surplus and sold. As at the end of April, of the 828 dwellings identified above, 250 were vacant because they were either awaiting sale or demolition.
M4
Mr. Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the September 1993 plans for M4 improvements to junction 4B-8/9 were most recently updated; and if he will place copies of the updated plans in the Library. [25995]
Mr. Norris: The Highways Agency held public consultation in October 1993 about proposals for increasing capacity in this corridor. The responses to the consultation are still being considered in preparation for a decision by the Secretary of State on the preferred option. There has been no revision of the proposals since consultation.
Railways Investment
Mr. Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what were the levels of investment in the rail network, excluding channel tunnel and European passenger services, for each year since 1970, expressed at constant 1995 prices. [27153]
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Mr. Watts: The information, expressed in 1994 95 prices, is as follows:
|Investment
Year |(£ million)
------------------------------------
1970 |702
1971 |746
1972 |775
1973 |777
1974 |839
1975 |969
1976 |946
1977 |937
1978 |941
1979 |967
1980 |951
1981 |810
1982 |695
1983 |767
1984-85<1> |786
1985-86 |855
1986-87 |819
1987-88 |993
1988-89 |970
1989-90 |1,085
1990-91 |1,009
1991-92 |1,059
1992-93 |1,004
1993-94 |663
<1> 15-month year due to an
accounting change from calendar
years to financial years.
M66
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 15 May, Official Report , column 2 , if the M66 has lighting along its entire length. [26370]
Mr. Watts: This is an operational matter for the Highways Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member. Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Gordon Prentice, dated 6 June 1995:
As you know, the Minister for Railways and Roads, Mr. John Watts, has asked me to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 15 May, Official Report, column 2, if the M66 has lighting along its entire length.
The M66 is a dual 2 lane (and in places dual 3 lane) motorway and 14 of its 16 miles are lit.
NATIONAL HERITAGE
Churchill Papers
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if the recently acquired Churchill papers are insured against fire or other loss. [26366]
Mr. Dorrell: This is a matter for the Sir Winston Churchill archive trust, the new owners of the papers which are housed at Churchill college, Cambridge. I understand the trustees will be meeting shortly to consider, among other things, arrangements for insurance of the papers.
Column 51
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage, pursuant to his answer of 24 May, Official Report, column 647, on the cataloguing of the Churchill archive, if he will estimate the number of items and the percentage of the collection that are state papers. [26965]
Mr. Dorrell: The state papers in the Churchill archive are, in the main, those listed in the classes shown as "Official" in the outline catalogue which is available at Churchill college, Cambridge and at the national register of archives, Chancery lane. When the detailed catalogue, to which I referred in my rely to the hon. Member on 24 May is available it will be possible to say precisely how many items these classes comprise.
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage who initiated the negotiations for the sale of Winston Churchill's private papers to the national heritage memorial fund. [26866]
Mr. Dorrell: Cambridge university and Churchill college, Cambridge submitted a lottery application to fund the purchase of the non-state papers. The papers are now the property of the Sir Winston Churchill archive trust, which was specially constituted for the purpose.
Surplus Land
Mr. Fatchett: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will list those sales involving surplus land and property in which his Department has inserted a clause in the sale contract allowing his Department to obtain a share of any future development gain; and if he will make a statement. [26320]
Mr. Dorrell: Since its inception in 1992, neither my Department nor its agencies have been involved in the sale of any surplus land or property.
Digital Terrestrial Television
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what criteria will be used to allocate the additional channels which will become available in 1997 with the introduction of digital terrestrial television. [26576]
Mr. Dorrell: The Government are considering their policy for the introduction of digital broadcasting, including licensing and ownership questions, and will later this summer be issuing a policy document setting out their proposals.
West Midlands Arts Council
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what funding the west midlands arts council has received in each of the last five years. [25254]
Mr. Dorrell: Central Government funding for the regional arts boards is delivered through three non-departmental public bodies: the Arts Council of England, the British Film Institute, and the Crafts Council. The funding from each of these bodies for the West Midlands arts board in each of the past five years is as follows:
|Crafts
|Ace |BFI |Council
-----------------------------------------------------------------
1990-91 |2,811,908 |109,250 |49,000
1991-92 |3,161,366 |127,444 |55,500
1992-93 |<1>3,644,064|130,970 |64,900
1993-94 |3,878,697 |112,292 |67,200
1994-95 |<2>5,588,887|130,970 |73,000
<1> This figure includes £95,000 as a result of the delegation
of funding responsibility to West Midlands Arts Board for
clients from the Arts Council.
<2> This figure includes £1.6 million as a result of the
delegation of funding responsibility to West Midlands Arts Board
for four theatres in the region from the Arts Council.
Archaeological Sites
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what is his Department's current expenditure devoted to the preservation of archaeological sites. [25251]
Mr. Dorrell: Setting aside expenditure on properties which are the direct responsibility of my Department and its sponsored bodies, and which will include sites of archaeological importance, my Department's resources for the preservation of archaeological sites are channelled primarily through English Heritage. In 1994 95, English Heritage spent £2.6 million on grants to owners for the preservation, maintenance and management of ancient monuments and £8 million on archaeological investigations, including excavation and preservation by record.
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many archaeological sites known to his Department have been (a) listed and (b) not listed by his Department. [25250]
Mr. Dorrell: At the end of April 1995, there were 15,489 entries on the schedule of ancient monuments, representing some 22,250 individual sites. There are about 500,000 archaeological sites in England, but of these less than 10 per cent. are likely to be of national importance and therefore eligible for consideration for scheduling.
Theatre Admissions
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what discussions he has had with theatre production promoters to encourage admission for people on low incomes. [25252]
Mr. Dorrell: This subject comes up regularly in discussions with a wide variety of interlocutors. My Department, the Arts Council and regional arts boards attach a high priority to encouraging the widest possible access to the arts. To that end, the council and RABs pay particular attention to the access policies, including seat pricing arrangements, of the performing arts organisations which they support.
Channel 4
Mr. Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage, how Channel 4 can use or dispose of Channel 4 surpluses. [26445]
Mr. Dorrell: It is for Channel 4 to determine how it uses or disposes of its surpluses, within the terms of its remit set out in the Broadcasting Act 1990 and its licence conditions established by the Independent Television Commission.
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Mr. Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if Channel 3 bidders indicated the expected levels of money transfers to or from Channel 4. [26443]
Mr. Dorrell: The business plans of the Channel 3 bidders are confidential to the Independent Television Commission, which was responsible for awarding the Channel 3 licences.
Mr. Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if Channel 4 is treated by his Department as a nationalised business. [26446]
Mr. Dorrell: Channel 4 became a self-governing statutory corporation on 1 January 1993, under the terms of the Broadcasting Act 1990.
Community Television
Mr. Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what action he is taking to assist the development of local community television services. [26536]
Mr. Dorrell: The Broadcasting Act 1990 increased the scope for broadcasting in the UK, including opportunities for local television services delivered by cable. The introduction of digital terrestrial television services may open up further prospects. The Government intend to publish proposals for digital broadcasting this summer.
Television Productions
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how much was earned in exports of television productions in the last year for which figures are available. [25257]
Mr. Dorrell: Data published by the Central Statistical Office for 1993, the latest year for which figures are available, show the overseas earnings of UK television companies as totalling £113 million. Total earnings will have been higher than this, because some of the record £236 million overseas earnings of the UK film industry for transmission rights, royalties and sales will have been generated by their television productions, but this component is not separately identifiable.
BBC
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage by what mechanisms the BBC is accountable to Government in relation to the economy and efficiency of its expenditure. [25256]
Mr. Dorrell: Responsibility for ensuring economy and efficiency falls ultimately on the BBC's governors, who are appointed by Her Majesty the Queen on the recommendation of the Prime Minister. The BBC is required by its royal charter to lay its annual report and accounts before Parliament.
Mr. Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what recent representations he has received relating to reductions in the BBC's output. [25255]
Mr. Dorrell: We regularly receive representations about the changes to the BBC's programmes and services.
National Lottery
Dr. Godman: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will make a statement concerning
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the distribution of national lottery funds to voluntary organisations in (a) Strathclyde and (b) Scotland. [23344]Mr. Dorrell [holding answer 16 May 1995]: The following voluntary organisations have received awards from national lottery proceeds in Strathclyde:
Voluntary |£
organisations
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Strathclyde
Tobermory Centre, Island of Mull |85,000
Hopscotch Theatre Company, Glasgow |20,358
Four Acres Charitable Trust, Glasgow |9,500
The Arts is Magic, Glasgow |7,000
Bellshill and Mossend YMCA, Bellshill |37,000
Ardrossan Academicals Rugby Football Club,
Ardrossan |24,000
Scotland
Grampian Arts Hospital Trust, Elgin |14,200
The Saltire Society, Edinburgh |12,095
Plockton Village Hall, Kyle of Lochalsh |62,435
Melvin Hall Management Committee, Tarves |7,965
Haddo Arts Trust, Aberdeen |28,955
Orkney Camarata, Orkney |6,000
Pitlochry Festival Theatre, Pitlochry |7,500
MacRobert Arts Centre, Stirling |9,000
Dance Base Ltd., Edinburgh |3,875
Deeside Gliding Club, Aboyne |49,800
Loch Ness and Highland Horizons, Inverness |760,000
Northern Sports Development Trust, Shetland |45,000
Priestfield Tennis and Sports Association, Edinburgh |24,700
Jed Forest Rugby Football Club, Jedburgh |37,700
Cononbridge and Maryburgh Bowling Club, Ross
and Cromarty |28,300
Highland Gliding Club, Elgin |22,000
Deeside All Weather Training Area, Banchory |40,000
Findhorn Bowling and Tennis Club, Morayshire |10,700
Stewarty Unit 558 Sea Cadet Corps, Kirkcudbright |4,500
West Linton Tennis Club, West Lothian |29,900
Corstorphine Lawn Tennis Club, Edinburgh |27,800
Hawick Bowling Club, Hawick |26,600
Loch Tay Racing Club, Kenmore |16,000
West Calder Bowling Club, West Lothian |9,606
OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION
Contingency Budget
Miss Lestor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been the size of the Overseas Development Administration's contingency budget for each of the last five years. [25733]
Mr. Baldry: The information is as follows:
1991 92: £70 million
1992 93: £70 million
1993 94: £70 million
1994 95: £75 million
1995 96: £68 million
Miss Lestor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many times the ODA's contingency budget was drawn on in 1994 95; and for what purpose. [25737]
Mr. Baldry: The ODA's contingency budget was drawn on 29 times in 1994 95. It was used for the following purposes:
Column 55
Aid Programme Contingency Reserve Allocations: 1994-95
|Amount
Approved claims |£000
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
European Investment Bank (EIB) loan defaults: 7
claims |829
Food Aid
Rwanda |1,250
Malawi |1,440
Rwanda:(4 claims) |20,000
Commonwealth Development Corporation (CDC): to
cover cost of interest payments pending an
amendment to the CDC Act permitting the waiving
of interest charges |5,860
Financial support for the newly formed
Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF) |30
Mozambique-Matola Jetties |2,250
Turks and Caicos Islands: environmental and
infrastructure improvements |250
Further work on Economic and Social Research |300
Macedonia balance of payments support |2,000
Commonwealth of Learning |300
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP):
UK contribution to Capacity 21 |647
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA): further
support for population projects |1,500
Skillshare Africa |65
Commonwealth Fund for Technical Cooperation
(CFTC): increased contribution due to progress on
reforms |400
Commission for Sustainable Development (CSD):
finance participation of indigenous people in CSD
meetings |20
British Council: to cover in-year Overseas Price
Movements (OPM) |733
Bosnia |20,000
Evaluation |150
Total approved |58,024
Disaster Relief: funds earmarked at start of FY |12,000
Balance of Contingency Reserve at end of FY |4,976
Ministerial Visits
Mrs. Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list all projects to be visited by the Minister for Overseas Development in Indonesia. [26789]
Mr. Baldry: My right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for Overseas Development visited the following projects:
Active Learning and Professional Support project
Kampung Improvement project
Flight simulator project
Samarinda Combined Cycle Power Plant project
Tropical Forestry Management project
Mrs. Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the Minister for Overseas Development will be visiting Indonesia; what plans the Minister has to sign a concessional loan agreement and for what amount; what projects are to be funded by it; and which British-funded aid projects the Minister will visit. [26764]
Mr. Baldry: My right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for Overseas Development visited Indonesia from 22 to 26 May. She visited the following British funded aid projects:
Active Learning and Professional Support project
Flight Simulator project
Samarinda Combined Cycle Power Plant project
Tropical Forestry Management project
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My right hon. and noble Friend signed a new concessional loan arrangement for £80 million. Projects to be funded under this arrangement are to be identified.Indonesia
Mrs. Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 8 February, Official Report , column 289-94 , if he will list ATP agreements with Indonesia, concluded in 1993 and 1994, in each case specifying the same detail as in his answer and details of the Indonesian Government Departments or other Indonesian body responsible for overseeing each project. [26776]
Mr. Baldry: Concessional lending arrangements for £65 million and £80 million were signed in April 1993 and April 1994 respectively. There were no specific ATP project agreements concluded with the Government of Indonesia in 1993 and 1994.
Mrs. Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 8 February, Official Report , column 289 , if he will list in respect of each ATP project in Indonesia since 1980 the Indonesian Government Department or other Indonesian body responsible for overseeing the project. [26775]
Mr. Baldry: The table gives the Indonesia Government Department or the Indonesian body responsible for each project listed in my answer of 8 February.
Project |Department or body
|responsible
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mrica Hydro Project |Ministry of Mines and Energy
Jambu Aye Dam Study |Ministry of Mines and Energy
Ombilin Coal Mine |Ministry of Mines and Energy
AIS Submarine Cable |Ministry of Tourism Posts and
| Telecomms
Education Equipment Study |Directorate General of Higher
| Education
Jabatobek Railway Study |Ministry of Communication
Bengkulu Oil Palm Study |Ministry of Agriculture
Isolated Diesels |Ministry of Mines and Energy
Bukit Asam Rail Bridges |Ministry of Communications
Offshore Supply Vessels |Ministry of Communications
Ombilin Coal Mine Training |Ministry of Mines and Energy
Jabatobed Feasibility Study |Ministry of Communications
Railway Track Turnouts |Ministry of Communications
Steel Bridging |Ministry of Public Works
| (Bina Marga)
Navigational Aids |Directorate General of Sea
| Communications
Coal Fired Power Station |Ministry of Mines and Energy
Training
Marine Diesel Engines |Ministry of Communications
Batam Island Power Develop. |Ministry of Mines and Energy
Study
Bandung TV Studios |Directorate General of Radio,
| TV and Film
Radio Studios Rehab (ATP/TC) |Ministry of Information
| (DEPPEN)
Cigading Port |Pt Krakatau Steel
Radio Studios (ATP/TC) |Ministry of Information
| (DEPPEN)
Satellite Remote Sensing |Ministry of Tourism, Posts
| and Telecomms
Scattered Diesels |PLN (Indonesian Electricity
| Authority)
Ombilin Coal Mine I |Ministry of Mines and Energy
Citayam/Cibinong Railway |Indonesian State Railway
Cigading/Serpong Railway |Indonesian State Railways
Forestry Radios |Ministry of Forestry
Radio Studios Rehabilitation |Ministry of Information
| (DEPPEN)
Shortwave radio Transmitters |Ministry of Information
| (DEPPEN)
Flight Simulator Consultancy |MERPATI Airlines via
| Directorate General of Air
| Communications
Western Universities Equipment |Directorate General of Higher
| Education
Bali/Medan Airport Security |Directorate General of Air
| Communications
Jambi Power Station |PLN (Indonesian Electricity
| Authority)
Flight Simulator |MERPATI Airlines-via
| Direcorate General of Air
| Communications
Steel Bridging II |Ministry of Public Works (Bina
| Marga)
Toll Road (ATP/TC) |Pt Jas Marga-the Toll Road
| Authority of the Government of
| Indonesia
Automotive Industry Study |Ministry of Industry
Western Universities Training |Directorate General of Higher
Centre | Education
Flight Simulator Consultancy |MERPATI Airlines-via
| Directorate General of Air
| Communications
Mrs. Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 28 March, Official Report , column 545 , whether the consultancy unit established by the Indonesian national police with the help of the Overseas Development Administration's police management training project is available to advise and assist the East Timorese police authorities if required. [26777]
Mrs. Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 8 February, Official Report , columns 289 94 , in respect of the Cikampek-Padalarang toll road project agreed with Indonesia in 1991, what was the purpose of the project, the nature of the work involved in it and the equipment supplied under the project; which Indonesian companies were involved in the project; what proportion of the funding for the project related to technical co- operation; what was the nature of that technical co-operation; and who will operate the completed toll road and receive the tolls. [27353]
Mr. Baldry: We have agreed to provide a total of £16.85 million towards the cost of designing and constructing a toll road from Cikampek to Padalarang in Indonesia. Of this, £4.7 million has been provided from technical co-operation funds. It was spent on surveys, detailed design and geological investigations. The remainder will be provided as a mixed credit towards the cost of construction. Road construction is expected to start later this year. The Indonesian companies involved are PT Jasa Marga--the Indonesian Highways Corporation--and PT Citra Lamtoro Gung Persada. The toll road will be operated by a joint venture comprising these two companies and Trafalgar House Construction Ltd. to be known as PT Citra Granesha Marga Nusantara. This company will receive the tolls.
Mrs. Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 8 February, Official Report , columns 289 94 , what was the nature of the equipment supplied under the Bali and Medan airport security aid and trade provision project
Column 58
concluded with Indonesia in 1991; to whom the equipment was supplied and what security function it fulfils. [27351]Mr. Baldry: This project provided the directorate general of air communications with security and communications equipment and an associated training programme.
The purpose of the project was to reduce security risks to civil aviation in Indonesia, and so to help promote the tourist industry.
Mrs. Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 8 February, Official Report , columns 289 94 , what is the nature of the equipment supplied under the navigational aids aid and trade provision project concluded with Indonesia in 1987; what are the functions of the equipment; to whom it was supplied; and for what purpose it is being used. [27349]
Mr. Baldry: Equipment funded under this project was supplied to the directorate general of communications. It consisted of lighthouses, lightbeacons and lightbuoys to improve safety for shipping through the islands of Indonesia as well as to extend the number of routes which could be used safely.
Mrs. Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 8 February, Official Report , columns 289-94, what is the nature of the equipment supplied under the satellite remote sensing aid and trade provision project concluded with Indonesia in 1989; what are the functions of the equipment; to whom it was supplied; and for what purpose it is being used. [27352]
Mr. Baldry: These funds part financed a seminar describing the applications of satellite remote sensing technology relevant to the requirements of the Indonesian Ministry of Forestry. The technology was being considered for use in the detection and monitoring of forest hazards.
Mrs. Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much aid the Government expect to pledge to Indonesia at the forthcoming consultative group on Indonesia meeting in July; and if the Government will raise with the representatives of the Government of Indonesia at that meeting the issue of human rights and of Indonesia's occupation of East Timor. [27348]
Mr. Baldry: We are currently considering the size of the aid pledge we will announce at the consultative group in mid-July. It is expected to be about the same level as in 1994.
Human rights and East Timor are not on the agenda for the consultative group, but we shall continue to raise these issues in our frequent bilateral contacts with the Indonesian Government.
Mrs. Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 8 February, Official Report, columns 289-94 , what was the nature of the equipment supplied under the isolated diesels and scattered diesels aid and trade provision projects concluded with Indonesia in (a) 1985 and (b) 1989; what were the functions of the equipment; to whom it was supplied; and for what purpose it is being used. [27350]
Mr. Baldry: The 1985 isolated diesel project consisted of the supply of 45 diesel generating sets each with a
Column 59
capacity of between 5 and 6 mW. These were used to expand the generating capacity at 14 sites serving small urban centres in Indonesia.The 1989 scattered diesels project supplied six 2.5 mW diesel generating sets to increase capacity at three sites. Both projects were implemented by the Indonesian State Electricity Authority.
Desertification
Mr. McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he will take to combat desertification in third world countries; and if he will allocate funds as part of the Overseas Development Administration's budget to such countries. [26642]
Mr. Baldry: We are providing significant resources through the aid programme to assist developing countries affected by desertification. We have signed the desertification convention and shall ratify it in due course.
Angola
Mr. Robert Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what total funds from the Government have been (a) pledged and (b) disbursed to the 1995 United Nations consolidated inter- agency appeal for Angola; and if he will make a statement. [26772]
Mr. Baldry: We have pledged £5 million in response to the 1995 appeal, of which some £2.5 million has been disbursed. We are supporting UN agencies and NGOs with assistance for seeds and tools, demining, primary health, relief supplies and logistics.
Mr. Robert Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what funds the Government have (a) pledged and (b) disbursed in support of demining in Angola in each of the last three years. [26774]
Mr. Baldry: The information is as follows:
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