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Housing Corporation
Mr. Austin-Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has made of the likely receipts from sale of the Housing Corporation's loan portfolio to the private sector; and what proportion will be re-invested in housing. [4335]
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Mr. Clappison: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment announced on 28 November that he would shortly be appointing financial advisers to carry out detailed investigations into the options for sale and prospective disposal receipts of the corporation's loan portfolio.
In the event of sale, the proceeds would be applied to redemption of the Government's corresponding borrowing from the national loans fund.
Mr. Austin-Walker:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the relationship between the figure announced on 28 November for housing associations in 1996-97 and the sum previously announced for the same period; and what assessment he has made as to the effect of the change on the number of homes likely to be constructed. [4336]
Mr. Clappison:
As announced on 28 November, the Housing Corporation's approved development programme--ADP--for capital investment by housing associations in 1996-97 is £1,022 million, including £19 million for city challenge schemes. The figure announced last year for the same period was £1,127 million.
| 1996-97 | 1997-98 | 1998-99 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Provisional estimate | 42,000 | 37,300 | 42,900 |
| Previous estimate, 15 December 1994 | 41,200 | 41,100 | n/a |
The current provisional estimates reflect reduced development costs and other factors.
The ADP, together with lettings from other sources, is expected to achieve an average of around 60,000 new social lettings a year over the next three years 1996-97-- 1998-99.
Mr. Austin-Walker:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) when he expects to (a) receive a report and (b) make a decision on the proposed redevelopment of the former Queen Elizabeth military hospital, Woolwich; [4207]
(2) when he expects the planning inquiry into the redevelopment of the Queen Elizabeth military hospital, Woolwich to be held; and if this conforms to the time scale set out in the inquiries procedure rules. [4206]
Sir Paul Beresford:
The local inquiry has been arranged for 23 April 1996. This is seven weeks beyond the recommended time scales but it was the earliest practicable date when a suitably qualified inspector would be available. Once the Government office for London has received the inspector's report, we will issue the decision as quickly as possible.
Miss Emma Nicholson:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will publish the report by
5 Dec 1995 : Column: 182
the regional director of the Government office for the south-west on the outcome of his work in respect of the reports that the West Country development corporation commissioned from Coopers and Lybrand on needs and resources in Devon and Cornwall. [4679]
Mr. Curry:
I am publishing the regional director's report today and I and the Minister for Trade have had a useful meeting with the chairman and other representatives of the West Country development corporation.
We have listened to the messages from local agencies in the west country.
The regional director's report has explained that while needs in Devon and Cornwall remained substantial benefits are being delivered through increased Government spending, with improvements in many areas.
We have today pledged the Government's continuing commitment to working with agencies in Devon and Cornwall to ensure that the counties' business development and regeneration needs are being met. Devon and Cornwall will benefit from more than £240 million of United Kingdom and European funds aimed at regenerating the local economy over the next few years.
With the Government office and local partners working together in co-operation we shall build on the strengths of Devon and Cornwall to develop a strong and prosperous local economy.
Mr. Mills:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has finalised his plans for the future of the M42 motorway in the constituency of Meriden. [2645]
Mr. Watts:
I have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency to write to my hon. Friend.
Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Iain Mills, dated 5 December 1995:
Mr. Llwyd:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the amounts collected in tolls from the Severn bridge for each year since construction for which figures are available in constant 1995 prices; and if he will make a statement. [2171]
Mr. Watts:
I have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency to write to the hon. Member.
5 Dec 1995 : Column: 183
Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Elfyn Llwyd, dated 5 December 1995:
1. The amount shown for 1966-67 relates to tolls collected for the period from 9 September 1966 to 31 March 1967, i.e. approx. 7 months only. 2. The amounts for 1991-92 is for the period from 1 April 1991 to 25 April 1992. 3. The amount shown for the year 1992 relates to tolls collected from 26 April 1992 to 31 December 1992. 4. The Retail Price Index used for adjustment to 1995 prices is the index published for October 1995. The Government's policy is to ensure that implementing legislation imposes least cost and provides greatest certainty consistent with meeting our legal obligations.
Sir Mark Lennox-Boyd:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will re-negotiate with his European colleagues changes in the European agreement on the carriage of dangerous goods by road to enable withdrawal of the Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road and Rail (Classification, packaging and labelling) Regulations 1994 to take place without contravention of EU laws; [3544]
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(2) if he will withdraw the Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road and Rail (Classification, Packaging and Labelling) Regulations 1994. [3543]
Mr. Norris:
To seek to negotiate the extensive changes in Community legislation and in other international agreements that are implicit in my hon. Friend's questions would be impractical. However, the Health and Safety Commission has just published a consultation document containing a draft of a revised version of these regulations. Any comments on the draft should be submitted to the commission by 1 March 1996.
Sir Mark Lennox-Boyd:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) for how long the derogation from the Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road and Rail (Classification, Packaging and Labelling) Regulations 1994, set out in the verbal protocol to the Sanitary Medical Disposal Services Association of 12 June remains in force; [3546]
(2) if he will instruct the Health and Safety Executive to put in writing the protocol reached with the SMDSA on 12 June regarding derogation from the Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road and Rail (Classification, Packaging and Labelling) Regulations 1994 to the clinical waste management industry. [3545]
Mr. Norris:
I am advised that the Health and Safety Executive will be writing before the end of the year to the SMDSA about the current position regarding the transport of clinical waste.
As you know, the Minister for Railways and Roads, Mr John Watts, has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking the Secretary of State for Transport, if he has finalised his plans for the future of the M42 motorway in the constituency of Meriden.
Following the recent review of the roads programme, we will be concentrating on the section of the motorway in the Meriden constituency ie between junctions 3A and 7, where the greater problems exist. In line with other decisions taken in the review the scheme will no longer contain provision for a fifth lane in each direction between junctions. In taking the scheme forward, we shall take into account the responses to public consultation in June 1994 on the full scheme. We shall also be considering the scope for other reductions in scale.
As you know, the Minister for Railways and Roads, Mr John Watts, has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will list the amounts collected in tolls from the Severn Bridge for each year since construction for which figures are available in constant 1995 prices; and if he will make a statement.
I attach a table listing the amounts collected in tolls from the Severn Bridge for each year since its construction. The first column shows the actual amounts of tolls collected. The second column shows the figures in 1995 prices.
I hope that this information is helpful.
Year Amount of toll collected Figure adjusted to 1995 prices £ £
1966-67 329,971 3,210,287.86
1967-68 743,115 7,054,390.70
1968-69 807,934 7,326,345.51
1969-70 873,755 7,514,293.00
1970-71 926,546 8,158,237.53
1971-72 1,000,682 7,394,039.30
1972-73 1,192,836 8,229,375.56
1973-74 1,214,422 7,672,718.20
1974-75 1,208,599 6,583,238,75
1975-76 1,216,512 5,334,405.12
1976-77 1,254,380 4,718,977.56
1977-78 1,242,306 4,033,767.58
1978-79 1,330,837 3,991,180.16
1979-80 2,134,378 5,643,295.43
1980-81 2,757,335 6,179,187.74
1981-82 2,746,407 5,501,053.22
1982-83 2,851,081 5,257,393.36
1983-84 2,843,711 5,016,306.20
1984-85 2,988,316 5,017,382.56
1985-86 5,311,638 8,413,634.59
1986-87 4,395,461 6,729,450.79
1987-88 9,072,594 13,336,713.18
1988-89 10,103,476 14,154,969,88
1989-90 13,609,424 17,692,251.20
1990-91 20,795,558 24,705,122.90
1991-92 (24/4/92) 22,758,261 25,534,768.83
1992 21,991.00 23,794,262.00
1993 34,366,00 36,599,790.00
1994 39,201.00 40,769,040.00
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