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Hydrofluorocarbons
Mr. Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made in the negotiation of voluntary agreements with industry on the use of hydrofluorocarbons. [11823]
Mr. Gummer: The Government have today concluded separate voluntary agreements with the four principal users of hydrofluorocarbons--the aerosols, air conditioning and refrigeration, fire and foams industries. These are the first agreements of their kind in Europe, and reflect the Government's desire to achieve environmental objectives through voluntary action by industry, rather than regulation, wherever possible.
The agreements recognise that in certain applications, HFCs are important alternatives to chlorofluorocarbons and hydrochlorofluorocarbons which are ozone-depleting substances. HFCs are, however, greenhouse gases with a high global warming potential. The agreements with the industries concerned therefore ensure that, where HFCs are used, emissions to the atmosphere are minimised; and that they are not used where emissions are unavoidable, if safe, practical and more environmentally acceptable alternatives are available.
Under the UN framework convention on climate change, the United Kingdom is committed to returning its emissions of greenhouse gases to 1990 levels by the year 2000. Although currently emitted in smaller quantities than some other greenhouse gases, HFCs are significant due both to their high global warming potentials and to the potential increase in their use as replacements for ozone-depleting substances. These agreements will lead to a reduction in HFC emissions and so contribute to the UK climate change programme.
23 Jan 1996 : Column: 207
Mr. Dobson:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list each prosecution by the National Rivers Authority against the privatised coal companies since coal privatisation, indicating (a) the date of infringement, (b) the date of prosecution, (c) a summary of the nature of the offence and (d) any resultant conviction. [9509]
Mr. Gummer
[holding answer 15 January 1996]: No prosecutions have been brought by the National Rivers Authority against the privatised coal companies.
Mr. McMaster:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures are in place to ensure that the inaccessibility of school transport is not a restricting factor in integrating disabled children into mainstream schools; and if he will make a statement. [9248]
Mr. Richards:
Local education authorities have responsibility for identifying and assessing children with special educational needs. They have a qualified duty to ensure that children with special educational needs are educated in mainstream schools. They also have to comply with parental preference for a maintained school, subject to it being appropriate for the child and compatible with the efficient use of resources. If LEAs identify a particular need appropriate to a child's education, which may include school transport outside the authority's normal arrangements, they have to ensure that suitable provision is made.
Mr. McMaster:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what guidance he intends to issue to health authorities and trusts about the implementation of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995; and if he will make a statement; [9242]
(3) what guidance he intends to issue to (a) Departments, (b) executive agencies, (c) non-departmental public bodies and (d) outside bodies and arm's-length organisations which he has responsibility for, or an interest in, regarding the implementation of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995; and if he will make a statement. [9231]
Mr. Hague:
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister for Social Security and Disabled People on 15 January 1996, Official Report, column 417. I will ensure that my Department and any bodies for which it is responsible are made aware of their responsibilities under the Act.
23 Jan 1996 : Column: 208
Mr. Barry Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has to enable members of town and community councils to be represented on community health councils as of right. [9546]
Mr. Richards:
Current legislation does not provide for town and community councils to be represented on community health councils as of right.
Primary legislation allows for at least one half of a community health council's membership to be made up of local authority nominees: these nominees can be drawn from any organisation, including town and community councils.
Mr. Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many community and town councillors sit on community health councils in Wales. [9547]
Mr. Richards:
This information is not held currently.
Mr. Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the community health councils in Wales. [9548]
Mr. Richards:
This information can be found in the 1995 health services year book prepared by the Institute of Health Services Management. A copy is in the Library.
Mr. Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his policy in respect of consultation on community health council matters where town and community councils are concerned. [9549]
Mr. Richards:
There is no central policy for consulting on community health council matters directly with town and community councils. It is for the representative local authority to consult locally with its constituent councils on CHC matters.
Mr. Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the prospects for community health councils with respect to the impending changes in health authority organisation. [9550]
Mr. Richards:
An important function of the new health authorities will be to act as the major local NHS presence, keeping in touch and working with local people and organisations to develop local services at a pace and in ways that local people will accept. As one of the most effective local representatives of the patient interest, CHCs fulfil the vital role of ensuring that the new commissioners are made fully aware of the need to make services more responsive to local needs and patient views.
A copy of briefing paper No. 4, "A Fresh Start for Community Health Councils", drafted by an NHS Wales working group will be placed in the Library. This offers a more detailed assessment of how the role of CHCs may need to develop over the coming years.
Mr. Win Griffiths:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many teachers in each local education authority have taken early retirement (a) on grounds of ill health and (b) for other reasons in each of the last five years; and how many of those have subsequently returned to teaching; [9716]
23 Jan 1996 : Column: 209
Mr. Hague:
I will write to the hon Member as soon as possible and place a copy of my reply in the Library of the House.
23 Jan 1996 : Column: 210
Mr. Raynsford:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what were the reasons for homelessness among those households accepted as homeless by local authorities in Wales who were in priority need by reason of old age, in each quarter in 1993 and 1994, and in the first two quarters of 1995. [10264]
Mr. Gwilym Jones:
The information requested is provided in the following table.
23 Jan 1996 : Column: 209
(2) what guidance he intends to issue to local authorities about the implementation of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995; and if he will make a statement; [9246]
(2) how many teachers in each local education authority have had their employment terminated by voluntary redundancy agreements in each of the last five years; and how many of these have subsequently returned to teaching. [9704]
| 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reason for homelessness | January-March | April-June | July-September | October-December | January-March | April-June | July-September | October-December | January-March | April-June |
| Breakdown of relationship with parents | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Breakdown of relationship with relatives/friends | 14 | 21 | 19 | 13 | 17 | 17 | 23 | 12 | 12 | 9 |
| Breakdown of relationship with spouse/cohabitee-- violent | 1 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| Breakdown of relationship with spouse/cohabittee-- non violent | 12 | 7 | 10 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| Action by mortgagee | 9 | 11 | 7 | 10 | 6 | 10 | 7 | 15 | 9 | 6 |
| Sale of owner occupied property | 5 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 5 |
| Rent arrears, LA/HA/other public sector | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 |
| Rent arrears, private sector | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Other reason for loss of rented accommodation | 36 | 18 | 19 | 22 | 28 | 26 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 25 |
| Fire, flood, storm etc. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 13 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 20 | 21 | 15 | 15 | 26 |
| Total | 96 | 80 | 81 | 78 | 90 | 91 | 89 | 78 | 77 | 82 |
Source: Local authority returns.
23 Jan 1996 : Column: 211
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