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Column 327
Housing association dwellings
York North Yorks Yorkshire and England
Humberside
|Stock |Vacants|Stock |Vacants|Stock |Vacants|Stock |Vacants
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1979 |361 |23 |3,748 |69 |20,940 |730 |275,900|17,200
1980 |421 |35 |3,711 |74 |22,420 |590 |294,900|17,500
1981 |421 |15 |3,093 |63 |23,250 |570 |343,000|17,100
1982 |475 |5 |3,189 |28 |23,830 |590 |366,600|16,100
1983 |488 |1 |3,306 |19 |26,750 |640 |390,100|14,700
1984 |567 |13 |2,817 |37 |27,490 |760 |413,900|15,000
1985 |673 |10 |3,155 |22 |29,120 |800 |439,500|15,400
1986 |703 |5 |3,413 |29 |30,970 |700 |464,500|14,900
1987 |786 |1 |3,592 |25 |33,800 |430 |482,500|12,900
1988 |810 |4 |4,246 |65 |35,200 |510 |498,100|12,700
1989 |760 |n/a |3,220 |n/a |36,650 |n/a |519,600|21,700
1990 |851 |n/a |3,928 |n/a |40,910 |n/a |568,300|19,700
1991 |874 |10 |7,206 |117 |43,570 |720 |608,300|16,400
1992 |947 |16 |7,463 |93 |45,910 |800 |646,100|16,200
1993 |1,036 |59 |8,001 |203 |49,400 |1,940 |714,300|27,600
1994 |1,113 |18 |12,833 |145 |56,800 |1,010 |778,800|20,700
Notes:
The 1979 to 1988 county, regional and England totals are grossed for missing
data but for 1989 to 1994 only the England figures are grossed for missing
values.
Two authorities in Yorkshire and Humberside-Ryedale (in 1990-91) and Hambelton (
in 1993-94) have carried out Large Scale Voluntary Transfers to housing
associations.
The 1993 vacants figures include a number of dwellings purchased under the
Housing Market Package initiative (a total of 10,500 in England).
Sources:
1979 to 1988-Annual Housing Investment Programme (HIP1) returns submitted by
local authorities.
1989 to 1984-Annual HAR 10/1 returns which housing associations submit to the
Housing Corporation.
Mr. Robert B. Jones: The Department does not prepare forecasts of new house building.
Social Housing
Mr. Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many asylum seekers were allocated social housing in each of the last 10 years as a
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percentage of the total number of allocations made by each local authority in England, Scotland and Wales; and if he will make a statement; [31920](2) how many (a) women under 18 years and (b) men under 18 years have been waiting (i) over six months, (ii) over 2 months and (iii) over 18 months for social housing in each local authority in England, Scotland and Wales; and if he will make a statement; [31921] (3) how many individuals, classified as vulnerable under part III of the Housing Act 1985, were allocated social housing in each of the last five years as a percentage of the total number of allocations made by
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each local authority in England, Scotland and Wales; and if he will make a statement. [31922]Mr. Robert B. Jones: The information requested is not available centrally.
Mr. Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many starts were made in social housing for rent in each Hampshire district in each of the past five years; and how many starts he estimates will be made in each district in each of the next two years. [31844]
Mr. Jones: The publication "Local Housing Statistics" shows estimates of housebuilding starts by housing associations and by local authorities for each local authority area Hampshire. Figures are shown in table 1 of each of the following issues:
Year |Issue number ----------------------------------------------------------- 1990 |103 1991 |105 1992 |109 1993 |110 1994 (first three quarters only) |112
Copies of these publications are in the Library.
The Department does not prepare forecasts of new house building starts.
Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment
Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) which members of the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment receive a grant from (a) the National Environment Research Council and (b) a private company; and in the latter case if he will list the companies and the size of grants; [32499]
(2) if he will list the members of the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment with the name of their present employer; and whether they receive any form of research grant from any Department. [32500]
Sir Paul Beresford: The current membership of the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment comprises:
Professor J. Beringer: University of Bristol
Professor E. M. Cooke: Public Health Laboratory Service Dr. P. Dale: Institute of Plant Science Research
Dr. A. Garland: Glaxo-Wellcome plc
Dr. C. Gliddon: University of Wales
Dr. A. Gray: Institute of Terrestrial Ecology
Ms J. Hill: Green Alliance
Dr. J. Kinderlerer: University of Sheffield
Mr. J. McLeod: National Institute of Agricultural Botany Professor D. Onions: University of Glasgow Veterinary School Professor N. Poole: Zeneca Ltd.
Dr. D. Robinson: Scottish Crop Research Institute
Members are not required to provide comprehensive information on sources of funds for research, and such information is not therefore held by my Department. However, the National Institute of Agricultural Botany, the Scottish Crop Research Institute, and the Institute of Terrestrial Ecology all currently hold research contracts from my Department. Members are required to disclose
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any personal or professional interest, or any interest of the organisation which employs them before review of specific applications by the committee.Mr. Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if members of the public are allowed to attend committee meetings of the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment. [32502]
Sir Paul Beresford: Members of the public are not allowed to attend meetings of the committee. They may make written submissions to the committee.
Mr. Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will place the annual reports of the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment for the last five years in the Library. [32496]
Sir Paul Beresford: The first annual report of the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment was published last year and it was placed in the Library.
Mr. Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what investigations has taken place on the decision by the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment to allow the testing of genetically modified scorpion venom virus in open fields. [32497]
Sir Paul Beresford: The confined release of a genetically modified scorpion venom virus was the subject of a consent issued by the Secretary of State to the Institute of Virology and Environmental Microbiology in April 1994, following advice received from the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment.
Following the receipt of communications from some members of the public, the proposed release was reviewed for a second time by the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment, and its advice was that the consent should be maintained.
During the course of the release, the site was visited by specialist inspectors from the Health and Safety Executive, whose report confirmed that the release was being carried out in accordance with the terms and conditions of the issued consent. A satisfactory report of the release has been submitted by IVEM to the Secretary of State.
Genetically Modified Organisms
Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many forms of genetically modified viruses have been permitted by the Advisory Committee on Releases to the
Environment. [32501]
Sir Paul Beresford: The Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment has no authority to permit releases; consents for releases are given by the Secretary of State for the Environment, acting jointly with, as appropriate, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the Secretary of State for Scotland, or the Secretary of State for Wales.
The Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment has to date given advice to the Secretary of State for consents to release two forms of virus, one, a baculovirus, the other a bacteriophage.
Mr. Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list all the applications for the release of genetically modified organisms which have
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been refused by the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment. [32498]Sir Paul Beresford: The committee has no powers to approve applications. Since the committee was placed on a statutory basis in 1993, it has not advised that any applications be refused. It has delayed its advice on specific applications pending the provision of additional information, and it has advised on precautions to be taken in making specific releases.
Planning Applications
Mr. John Townend: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if registered restricted covenants that seek to preserve the character of a development are considered as other material considerations when a planning application is being
considered. [32421]
Sir Paul Beresford: While restrictive covenants and planning controls impinge upon each other to some extent, they constitute different systems of control and each has an independent existence. It is, however, ultimately for the courts to decide what is a material consideration.
Mr. Townend: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the implications for planning applications for the absence of the term, building line. [32422]
Sir Paul Beresford: It is for a local planning authority to determine in the first instance whether a planning application adequately describes a proposed development. The validity of applications is ultimately a matter for the courts.
Oil and Gas Platforms (Dumping)
Mr. Macdonald: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if the Government will support the Oslo Commission decision of 29 June to ban the dumping at sea of North sea oil and gas platforms. [32503]
Sir Paul Beresford: No decision on this subject could be reached by the Oslo Commission on 29 June for procedural reasons, but a majority of the contracting parties indicated that they would vote in an intersessional written procedure for a decision for a moratorium on deep sea disposal pending the development of a ban as soon as possible. The UK and Norway-- the only two countries which have deep-sea installations--indicated that they will not vote for that decision. Under the convention, they will thus not be bound by it. Any ban will be mere posturing by countries without such installations. These countries less than three years ago signed the OSPAR convention which provides for case-by-case assessment to determine the best way for the environment as a whole of decommissioning each major offshore installation--this remains the most effective way of dealing with this difficult problem.
Planning Blight
Mr. Rowe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received on the subject of compensation for planning blight; and if he will make a statement. [31159]
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Sir Paul Beresford: My Department regularly receives inquiries and comments about compulsory purchase and the compensation that may be payable.
During an Adjournment debate on 5 April, Official Report , columns 1693- 1700. I mentioned that certain aspects of the current arrangements require a careful and objective review. We therefore propose to commission research to look into a wide range of issues, which will include the effects of blight and the attitudes and expectations of those affected by compulsory purchase.
Marine Ecosystems (North Sea)
Mr. Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action is being taken to stop the destruction of marine ecosystems in the North sea. [31163]
Sir Paul Beresford: A range of national, European Union and international action is being taken to protect North sea ecosystems. The fourth North sea conference in June concluded that, within territorial waters, implementation of the EC habitats and birds directives was a priority. The conference asked the Oslo and Paris Commissions to consider what action is needed in respect of those waters outside territorial limits.
Local Government Finance
Mr. Dicks: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the levels of revenue reserves held by local authorities. [33468]
Mr. Curry: My Department has recently conducted a survey of the general fund revenue reserves held by local authorities during 1994 95. The results show that authorities held about £5.7 billion in revenue reserves at 1 April 1994, of which about £2.3 billion was unallocated, the remainder being earmarked for specific purposes or held on behalf of schools under local management of schools schemes. Authorities expect their reserves to decrease by 1 April 1995 to about £4.8 billion, of which £0.6 billion would be held on behalf of schools, £2.3 billion in other earmarked reserves, and £1.9 billion in working balances and other unallocated reserves. This compares with their budgeted revenue expenditure of £45.6 billion for 1995 96.
Assuming that authorities appropriate from reserves the amounts which they have taken into account in their 1995 96 budgets, their reserves would total £3.9 billion on 31 March 1996, of which we estimate that between £1.25 billion and £1.5 billion would be unallocated.
I have today placed in the Library of the House a copy of the available figures for the reserves which each authority expects to hold at 1 April 1995.
Mortgage Indemnities
Mr. Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment pursuant to his answer of 26 June, Official Report , column 541 , if he will list by local authority in England and Wales (a) the total value of indemnities given on mortgages under section 442 of the Housing Act 1985 and (b) the total value of indemnities given on loans for all purposes. [32340]
Mr. Robert B. Jones [holding answer 4 July 1995]: The available information on the total value of
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indemnities given on mortgages under section 442 of the Housing Act 1985 between April 1986 and 31 March 1995 is given in the table. This is based on data as reported by local authorities during the course of the year and does not incorporate any estimation for non- response.Information on the value of indemnities given on other types of loan is not collected.
Information in respect of Welsh local authorities is the responsibility of my hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.
Mortgage indemnity agreements entered into by
local authorities
England: April 1986-March 1995
|Total value
|£000
------------------------------------------------
Basildon |12
Bolton |2,438
Broadland |21
Bromsgrove |18
Broxbourne |6,747
Calderdale |1,175
Cherwell |751
Cleethorpes |18
Crawley |1,715
Crewe and Nantwich |3
Derby |275
Dudley |1,050
Easington |65
Ellesmere Port |100
Elmsbridge |684
Guildford |780
Hammersmith |60
Hertsmere |1,098
Kings Lynn |104
Kirklees |10
Knowsley |1,648
Langbaurgh |594
Leicester |143
Malvern Hills |6
Manchester |13
Middlesborough |213
North Warwickshire |220
Oldham |22
Preston |970
Reading |263
Reigate and Banstead |50
Rossendale |412
Rushcliffe |8,286
Salisbury |322
South Hams |581
South Kesteven |534
South Wight |693
Spelthorne |2,436
St. Edmundsbury |482
Staffordshire Moorlands |94
Stockton on Tees |514
Tameside |164
Tendring |1,064
The Wrekin |46
Torridge |54
Wandsworth |7,820
Wealden |174
West Devon |871
Westminster |1,616
Windsor and Maidenhead |576
Woking |1,294
Woodspring |13
England total |49,312
Source:
P1B Housing returns.
Archway Tower
Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will call for a report from the Property Services Agency on the future use and current condition of Archway tower, Junction road, London N19, formerly leased to the Department of Social Security.
Sir Paul Beresford [holding answer 6 July 1995]: Property Holdings has responsibility for Archway tower, which is leased to my Department, and is in need of some modernisation and refurbishment. It was formerly occupied by the Benefits Agency as a public caller office. It has recently moved to premises more suitable for its needs. While the building has been considered by other Departments, so far no interest has been shown and it has therefore been placed in the hands of letting agents with the intention that the lease is, if possible, totally disposed of.
Homeless Households
Mr. Barnes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion of households accepted as homeless by local authorities under part 3 of the Housing Act 1985 was recorded as ethnic minority households in the last year for which figures are available. [30547]
Mr. Robert B. Jones [holding answer 26 June 1995]: The statistical return--P1E--on which local authorities are asked to provide information on their activities under the homelessness provisions of the Housing Act 1985 has, since the second quarter of 1991, asked about the ethnic origin of households accepted for permanent re-housing. Complete data are not provided by a sizeable number of authorities and, because of the considerable variations in the ethnic mix between authorities, national estimates are not produced on the data currently submitted.
Private Finance Initiative
Mr. Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many schemes and to what value have been approved in 1994 95 under the private finance initiative; what are the estimates for the current financial year; how many schemes are currently being considered and at what value; for how long have they been considered and how many have been in the assessment process for over (a) six months and (b) 12 months; and what was the average length of time taken to assess schemes so far approved; [30844]
(2) how many schemes and by how much Government spending has changed in 1994 95 as a result of the private finance initiative; what is the estimated effect in 1995 96; how many jobs are to be created by schemes approved to date under the initiative and how many have been lost as a consequence in the public sector; and what is the forecast of transfer of employment from public to private sector over the last five years because of the initiative.
Sir Paul Beresford [pursuant to his reply, 28 June 1995, c.655]: I indicated that the Department of the Environment and its sponsored bodies attracted around £4 million in private investment. This should have stated that £4 billion had been attached in support of programmes in 1994 95.
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HEALTH
Glaucoma
Mr. Jon Owen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what is the average cost to her Department for providing glaucoma sufferers with a lifetime of prescriptions; [31403]
(2) what is the total annual cost to his Department for providing prescriptions to glaucoma sufferers; and how much is claimed back each year through prescription charges; [31401]
(3) what is the average cost to his Department for prescriptions to glaucoma sufferers per annum, per patient; and what is the same cost to the patient in prescription charges. [31400]
Mr. Malone: The available information is shown in the table:
Drugs used for the treatment of glaucoma, 1994 (provisional)
England
|Amount
-------------------------------------------------------------
Net ingredient cost |£25.4 million
Prescription items |3.4 million
Average net ingredient cost per
prescription item |£7.50
1. Drugs as defined by the British National Formulary
section 11.6 (Treatment of glaucoma). Some of these drugs
may have been prescribed for conditions other than glaucoma.
2. The information was obtained from the prescription cost
analysis system which is based on a full analysis of all
prescriptions dispensed in England by community pharmacists
and appliance contractors, dispensing doctors and
prescriptions submitted by prescribing doctors for items
personally administered. It excludes items dispensed by
hospital pharmacies.
3. The net ingredient cost refers to the cost of the drug
before discounts and does not include any dispensing costs
or fees.
4. Prescription data does not identify the disease or
condition for which the item has been prescribed.
Autoimmune Rheumatic Disease
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department carried out into a national repository of multicase families with autoimmune rheumatic disease; what have been the findings; and if he will make a statement. [30001]
Mr. Malone: The main agency through which the Government support biomedical and clinical research is the Medical Research Council, which receives its grant in aid from the office of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. In 1993 94 the MRC spent £2.9 million on research into the autoimmune system. No research is being carried out by the Department of Health into autoimmune rheumatic disease.
Committees
Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which members of (a) the Committee on Mutagenicity of Chemicals in Food, (b) the Committee on the Medical Aspects of Food Policy and (c) the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food receive grants from private companies. [32418]
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Mr. Sackville: Relevant grants for research from private companies are declared by members in the appropriate register of commercial interests, copies of which will be placed in the Library.
Health Authority Boundaries
Mr. Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) when he expects the new health authority boundaries to be published; and if he will make a statement; [32412]
(2) what guidance he has offered to regional health authorities concerning consultation with the public about new health authority boundaries; [32410]
(3) what opportunity there is for hon. Members to make representations concerning proposals for the new health authority boundaries; [32409]
(4) if he will place in the Library details of the proposed new health authority boundaries; [32413]
(5) what requirements he has placed on regional health authorities to consult with the public prior to finalising the new health authority boundaries. [32411]
Mr. Malone: Public consultation on the boundaries of the new health authorities will be carried out by regional offices of the national health service executive. A copy of the guidance "Consultation On The Boundaries Of The New Health Authorities" is available in the Library.
Each regional office will issue a consultation document setting out proposals for the new health authority boundaries within its area. Consultation will start on 17 July and will last three months. Comments should be made to the appropriate regional office by 17 October.
Decisions on the boundaries of the new health authorities will be made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health, following the consultation period, taking into account the views expressed.
Advertising
Mr. Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been spent on outside advertising agencies for each year since 1979; and if he will list the specific advertising campaigns undertaken by his Department, their purpose and their cost. [32475]
Mr. Sackville: Information for the years 1979 80 to 1984 85 is not available. Advertising expenditure for the financial years 1985 86 to 1994 95 is as follows:
|£ million
----------------------------------------
1985-86 |3.106
1986-87 |7.969
1987-88 |6.494
1988-89 |3.724
1989-90 |7.280
1990-91 |4.797
1991-92 |8.058
1992-93 |5.053
1993-94 |5.809
1994-95 (estimated) |4.305
Advertising campaigns have included AIDS, drug and solvent misuse, organ donation, blood donor recruitment, nurse recruitment, keep warm keep well, food hygiene, cot deaths, health of the nation, and the Children Act.
The figures include the 1.75 per cent. commission charged by the Central Office of Information for services associated with cental purchasing.
Details of specific advertising campaigns, their purpose and their cost could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Infertility Treatment
Mr. Jon Owen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many health authorities fund the intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection infertility treatment either within their own hospitals or as extra- contractual referrals. [32505]
Mr. Sackville: The information is not available centrally.
Young Offenders
Mr. Straw: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what number and percentage of young offenders aged (a) under 16 years, (b) 16 years and (c) 17 years were subject to supervision orders supervised (i) by social service departments and (ii) by the probation service. [32637]
Mr. Bowis: Information available centrally on supervision by social services departments only distinguishes children aged 14 and over from other children. These figures are in "Supervision Orders, year ending 31 March 1994, England" A/F 94/16, copies of which are available in the Library.
Supervision by the probation service is the responsibility of my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department.
Children's Homes
Mr. Hill: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to publish the report of the social services inspectorate study of small children's homes. [32728]
Ms Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the study by the social services inspectorate into unregistered children's homes was completed; and if he will place a copy of the study in the Library. [32544]
Mr. Bowis: The report is not yet completed.
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