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Educational Psychologists
Mr. Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list by local education authority the ratio of educational psychologists to children and young people in the age range 0 to 19 years. [36245]
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Mr. Richards: The information is as follows:
|Number of full-time |Ratio of educational
|equivalent |psychologists to
|educational
|psychologists in |population
|post |(estimated,
Local Education |at January 1994 |June 1993) aged
Authority |0 to 19 years
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Clwyd |17 |1:6100
Dyfed |13 |1:6600
Gwent |20 |1:5800
Gwynedd |6 |1:9800
Mid Glamorgan |15 |1:9600
Powys |5 |1:5800
South Glamorgan |10 |1:10900
West Glamorgan |12 |1:7700
Wales |98 |1:7600
Source:
STATS2 form; Registrar General's mid-year population estimates.
Mr. Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will make a statement on the additional duties placed on educational psychologists since 1978; and what action he proposes to take over the ratio of educational psychologists to young people in the age range 0 19 years of 1:5,000 recommended in the Warnock report. [36243]
(2) if he will make it his policy to change the recommended ratio of educational psychologists to children from 1:5,000 to 1:4,000; and what would be the additional cost to each local education authority to meet such a target. [36242]
(3) what assessment he has made of the number of educational psychologists that each local education authority will require to carry out its legal responsibilities under the code of practice for the identification and assessment of special educational needs. [36244]
Mr. Richards: The roles and responsibilities of educational psychologists reflect the statutory and non-statutory service provided for those with special education needs, which have significantly improved since 1978. The number of educational psychologists employed by each LEA is a matter for those LEAs. The Welsh Office continues to support financially the initial training of educational psychologists but I have no plans at present to make recommendations on the ratio of educational psychologists to children and have made no estimate of the additional costs of adopting the ratio suggested by the hon. Gentleman.
Mr. Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list by local education authority the number of educational psychologists employed in each of the last 10 years; and what was the proportion of men to women in each year. [36238]
Mr. Richards: Data have been collected centrally since 1992 but gender is not distinguished. Complete figures for 1995 have not yet been returned.
Number of full time equivalent educational psychologists in post at
January
Local education |1992 |1993 |1994
authority
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Clwyd |19 |20 |17
Dyfed |8 |10 |13
Gwent |18 |21 |20
Gwynedd |6 |5 |6
Mid Glamorgan |15 |15 |15
Powys |4 |4 |5
South Glamorgan |10 |10 |10
West Glamorgan |10 |10 |12
Wales total |90 |95 |98
Source:
STATS2 form.
Coleg Ceredigion
Mr. Ainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will institute an inquiry into the finances of Coleg Ceredigion. [35879]
Mr. Richards: No. The Further Education Funding Council for Wales is dealing with the matter.
Wrexham-Bidston Railway
Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had concerning an improved rail service between Bidston and Wrexham; and if he will make a statement. [36138]
Mr. Gwilym Jones: Officials discussed this line when they met the director of Regional Railways North West on 15 June.
Pupils (Exclusion)
Mr. Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many (a) secondary and (b) primary school children who have been permanently excluded have received tuition (i) at home and (ii) in a pupil referral unit in each of the past five years. [35840]
Mr. Richards: The information requested is not collected centrally.
Mr. Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many (a) secondary and (b) primary school children have been permanently excluded in each local education authority in each of the last five years, and if he will give the figures as a proportion of the total school roll; [35843]
(2) how many (a) secondary and (b) primary school children have been permanently excluded in each of the past five years. [35845]
Mr. Richards: Following the Elton committee of inquiry into discipline in schools, the Welsh Office monitored through the national exclusions reporting system, the incidence and circumstances of permanent exclusions over a two-year period from the summer of 1990. A total of 192 exclusions reported, of which 11 per cent. were in the primary sector. The breakdown by local education authority is as follows:
-
|Number
------------------------------
Clwyd |32
Dyfed |10
Gwent |49
Gwynedd |9
Mid Glamorgan |63
Powys |7
South Glamorgan |11
West Glamorgan |11
Since then, no information on exclusions has been collected centrally.
Health Authorities and Trust Boards (Members' Allowances)
Mr. Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 13 July, Official Report, columns 771 72 , if he will break down the figures on trust board and health authorities' members' allowances. [35856]
Mr. Richards: The information requested is as follows:
£ thousand
|Other emoluments
|including pension
District health |Fees |contributions
authorities
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Clwyd |44 |236
East Dyfed |0 |198
Gwent |41 |239
Gwynedd |47 |293
Mid Glamorgan |44 |233
Pembrokeshire |0 |105
Powys |42 |231
South Glamorgan |43 |185
West Glamorgan |45 |288
Special health authorities
Health Promotion Wales |40 |27
Welsh Health Common
Services Authority |16 |0
Family health services authorities
Clwyd |61 |87
Dyfed |56 |50
Gwent |53 |34
Gwynedd |56 |43
Mid Glamorgan |54 |49
Powys |53 |43
South Glamorgan |61 |45
West Glamorgan |52 |41
NHS trusts
Bridgend and District |44 |286
Carmarthen and District |40 |178
Ceredigion and Mid Wales |37 |142
Clwydian |46 |283
Glan Clwyd |39 |228
Glan Hafren |46 |294
Gwent Community |47 |254
Llandough |62 |288
Llanelli Dinefwr |42 |239
Pembrokeshire |42 |273
Powys |44 |268
South and east Wales Ambulance |40 |200
Swansea |41 |194
Wrexham Maelor |29 |281
Note:
1993-94 data is provisional.
Source:
Annual Accounts of DHAs, SHAs, FHSAs and NHS Trusts.
Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with Railtrack concerning the upgrading of the Holyhead-Crewe rail line; and if he will make a statement. [36137]
Mr. Gwilym Jones: Officials discussed this line when they met the director of Railtrack, North-West Zone on 3 May.
Cadw
Mr. Sweeny: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects to publish a revised framework document for Cadw Welsh Historic Monuments executive agency. [36376]
Mr. Gwilym Jones: I have now agreed a revised framework document for Cadw Welsh Historic Monuments which I will be publishing shortly. Copies will be placed in the Library of the House.
Mr. Sweeny: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he intends to publish the Cadw Welsh Historic Monuments annual report. [36378]
Mr. Jones: The report has been laid before the House today and will be published in August.
Planning
Mr. Sweeny: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he will draft planning policy guidance for Wales. [36377]
Mr. Hague: Tomorrow I shall issue for consultation two planning guidance documents, "Planning Policy Guidance (Wales)" and "Planning Guidance (Wales): Unitary Development Plans in Wales." Copies of the documents will be placed in the Library of the House.
Mr. Sweeney: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what performance targets he has set for the Planning Inspectorate agency's work in Wales for the financial year 1995 96. [36379]
Mr. Gwilym Jones: The key objectives for the agency in 1995 96 continue to be to preserve the impartiality and quality of the Inspectorate's work while seeking to improve its efficiency. I have set the following key performance targets for the agency's work in Wales:
Timeliness
(a) Eighty per cent. of planning appeals by written representations to be decided within 17 weeks.
(b) To provide an Inspector for local plan inquiries on request within 26 weeks of the end of the objection period.
Financial
(a) Unit costs of planning appeals decided by written representations not to exceed £690.
(b) Recover 90 per cent. of receipts due within 8 weeks of invoice date.
Efficiency
Generate a 3 per cent. efficiency improvement in the use of running costs compared with 1994 95.
Quality
(a) The number of justified complaints about the way Inspectors have carried out their duties, and the number of successful challenges in the High Court, should be less than one in every hundred decisions issued.
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(b) The number of justified complaints about the way in which the Inspectorate handled the procedural aspects of casework should be less than one in every hundred decisions issued.Volume
To determine 1,005 appeals, subject to intake not declining.
ENVIRONMENT
Private Rented Sector
5. Mr. Coe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on his plans to boost the private rented sector. [33375]
Mr. Gummer: The recent White Paper announced measures which will build on the progress we have achieved since 1988.
We are legislating to make it easier for landlords to let their property. This will increase the supply of good quality accommodation available to rent. We will introduce housing investment trusts to encourage institutional investment in privately rented housing. Trusts will benefit from exemption on capital gains, and a reduced rate of corporation tax.
Rented Accommodation
12. Mr. Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps are being taken to encourage the availability of affordable rented accommodation. [33383]
Mr. Curry: This year, public funding will produce 70,000 new social lettings. Around 250,000 existing tenancies become available for reletting each year.
Housing Renovation (Lancashire)
22. Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many homes in Lancashire require major renovation to bring them up to acceptable standards. [33395]
Mr. Clappison: On the basis of the data from the most recent returns, it is estimated that 55,000 dwellings in Lancashire were statutorily unfit on 1 April 1994. However, more than a third of these could be made fit by the owners at relatively little expense.
Inner-city Funding
23. Mr. Dunn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what account he is taking of the political control of local authorities when allocating inner-city funding. [33396]
Sir Paul Beresford: None. The quality and the likelihood of success are the prime considerations in this competition.
Repossessions
24. Mr. Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the number of home owners who will lose their homes through repossession in the next 10 years. [33397]
Mr. Clappison: The only prediction the Government make in this area is that we expect there to be 1.5 million more homeowners over the next 10 years.
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Social Rent Homes
25. Mr. Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many publicly owned social rent homes were started in 1979; and how many will be started in 1995. [33398]
Mr. Curry: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave today to the hon. Member for Ealing, Southall (Mr. Khabra).
Houses in Multiple Occupation
26. Mr. Hawkins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what further plans he has to deal with problems arising from the proliferation of houses in multiple occupation, with particular reference to seaside resorts. [33399]
Mr. Curry: The planning powers introduced in April 1994, requiring planning permission for a change of use from hotel or guest house to hostel, together with our proposals to strengthen local authorities' existing housing powers, published last week, will provide considerable control over the impact on local tourism in seaside resorts.
Mr. Bill Michie: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on his reasons for not introducing a national licensing scheme for houses in multiple occupation. [33644]
Mr. Clappison: I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave the hon. Member for Makerfield (Mr. McCartney) on 13 July, Official Report , column 723 .
Disused Oil Rigs (Dumping)
27. Mr. Alan W. Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the environmental implications of the dumping of disused oil rigs in the North sea or in deeper water. [33400]
Mr. Gummer: All the Governments of the North sea states agreed to the procedure for dumping disused oil rigs. I shall continue to evaluate these matters on the basis of environmental criteria rather than publicity campaigns.
Local Government
28. Mr. Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has to extend local democracy and accountability in local government in England. [33401]
Sir Paul Beresford: I thank the hon. Member for his support, and hope that he will help us to encourage the extension of local accountability in achieving, among other things, further improvement in the capital freedom proposed for grant-maintained schools and an increase in the number of sales which will result from the private sector bidding for housing association grant.
Air Quality
29. Mr. Cyril D. Townsend: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what new initiatives he will be bringing forward to improve air quality in south-east London. [33402]
Mr. Gummer: The Government have brought forward provisions in the Environment Bill to implement a new framework for air quality management and we will
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publish later this year our proposals for a national strategy for improving air quality.30. Mr. Touhig: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what funds are being made available to enable industry to comply with the latest air quality emission standards. [33403]
Mr. Clappison: Industry must comply with the latest air quality emission standards by the BATNEEC--best available techniques not entailing excessive cost--objective to minimise emissions, and must also aim to achieve any statutory air quality standards. It is the polluter and not the taxpayer who must pay.
Water Authority Board Members
31. Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is planning to take to limit the annual income of water authority board members. [33404]
Mr. Gummer: The Government are examining the recommendations of the recently published reports by the Employment Select Committee on the remuneration of directors and chief executives of the privatised utilities and the Greenbury committee on directors' pay. A considered response will be made in due course.
Office of Water Services
32. Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to review the scope of the statutory responsibilities of Ofwat. [33405]
Mr. Clappison: The Government have tabled an amendment to the Environment Bill that would give the Director General of Water Services powers to determine the actions that water companies should take to promote the efficient use of water by their customers, and to publish standards of performance in this respect. My right hon. Friend has no plans, at present, further to review the statutory responsibilities of Ofwat.
Rough Sleeping
33. Mr. Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to reduce rough sleeping. [33406]
Mr. Curry: The housing White Paper, published on 27 June, included a commitment to continue a programme to help people sleeping rough in central London beyond March 1996. It also said that we would consider assisting the development of the successful rough sleepers initiative model in areas outside central London where rough sleeping can be demonstrated to be a major problem.
Mr. Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration he has given to extending the duration of the rough sleepers initiative for central London and extending it to other parts of the United Kingdom. [34927]
Mr. Clappison: The housing White Paper--"Our Future Homes", Cm 2901- -published on 27 June, included a commitment to continue a programme to help people sleeping rough in cental London beyond March 1996. It also said we would consider assisting the development of the successful rough sleepers initiative model in areas outside central London where rough sleeping can be demonstrated to be a major problem. For
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information relating to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, I refer the hon. Member to the responsible Secretaries of State.East Thames Corridor
34. Dr. Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many acres of brown land are available in the east Thames corridor for potential future development. [33407]
Sir Paul Beresford: Work by consultants Llewelyn-Davies, published in 1993, suggests that there are more than 4,000 hectares of mostly recycled urban land with potential for development within the east Thames corridor, extending from docklands to Tilbury in Essex and Sheerness in Kent. The Government have identified the area, now known as Thames gateway, as the major opportunity for growth in the south-east.
Single Regeneration Budget
35. Mr. Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to issue regional guidance for the second round of bidding for the single regeneration budget. [33408]
Sir Paul Beresford: The bidding guidance for the second round of the single regeneration budget challenge fund was issued on 12 April 1995 and partnerships wishing to submit bids were required to send outline bids to Government offices for the regions by 16 June. We do not intend to publish any further guidance.
Ms Armstrong: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much each regional government office has available to allocate for new single regeneration and budget schemes. [35471]
Mr. Clappison: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government, Housing and Urban Regeneration to my hon. Friend the Member for Norfolk, North-West (Mr. Bellingham) on 15 June, Official Report, column 611.
Sewage Treatment Works
36. Mr. Stephen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of sewage treatment works failed their consent standards in 1986; and what is the equivalent figure now. [33409]
Mr. Clappison: In 1986, 23 per cent. of those sewage treatment works tested were non-compliant with their discharge consents. In 1993, the latest year for which data are available, the equivalent figure was 6 per cent.
Local Government Finance (Essex)
37. Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received on Essex county council's revenue support grant. [33410]
Mr. Curry: We received no representations on Essex county council's revenue support grant during the consultation period for 1995 96, which ended on 9 January 1995. Since then, we have received five written representations.
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Intergovernmental Panel on Forests
Mr. Dafis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the policy of the United Kingdom Government towards the intergovernmental panel on forests. [33393]
Mr. Gummer: Britain has been determined to repair the failure to tackle world forestry issues at the Rio summit. We have taken the lead in international efforts, both in the Commission for Sustainable Development and elsewhere, which culminated in the successful creation of the intergovernmental panel on forests.
Management Information System for Ministers
Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he plans to publish his Department's annual MINIS return. [29154]
Sir Paul Beresford [pursuant to his reply, 19 June 1995, c.127.]: I am pleased to announce that my Department published its MINIS return today. I can also announce, on behalf of my colleagues the President of the Board of Trade, the Secretary of State for Education and Employment and the Secretary of State for Transport, that the first MINIS document in respect of Government offices--GO--MINIS 1--is also published today. Copies of the documents have been placed in the Library of the House.
Small Businesses
Mr. David Shaw: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the achievements of (a) his policies and (b) his Department in helping small businesses over the last 12 months as against the previous 12 months; and if he will publish the performance indicators by which his Department monitors those results and the statistical results of such monitoring. [34703]
Mr. Gummer: In pursuing its various policies which have an impact on small firms, my Department takes full account of their crucial role in the economy. Those policies include our sponsorship of the construction industry as well as our responsibility for regeneration and energy efficiency, where our programmes provide direct assistance to small firms. In other policy areas, such as planning and environmental protection, our concern is to ensure that regulation does not impose unnecessary burdens on business. Details of programmes and policies and their achievements are set out in the Department's annual report, copies of which are in the Library of the House.
Water Pollution
Mr. Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many cases of water pollution have been recorded in each year for the last five years, by region. [34631]
Mr. Clappison: The number of substantiated pollution incidents recorded in each year since 1991 in each region of the National Rivers Authority is set out in the table. For 1990, due to differing recording practices between regions, the figures are in some cases of reported rather than substantiated incidents. As a result, the 1990 data are not directly comparable with those for later years. For
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consistency, all data are given on the basis of the current combined regions although the mergers of the Northumbria and Yorkshire regions and the South West and Wessex regions respectively took place in 1993.
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