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Local Government Finance
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list (a) the local authorities which will benefit from the area cost adjustment in 1996-97 and (b) the amount by which each such authority will benefit in that year. [13944]
Sir Paul Beresford: A table listing the contribution to SSAs from the area cost adjustment has been placed in the Library.
The contribution of the area cost adjustment is not the same as the amount an authority would gain or lose if there was not an area cost adjustment in the standard spending assessment system. If the area cost adjustment were removed, it would be necessary to revise the analyses on which the SSA formulae are based, and we would wish to consult the local authority associations on what would then be the most appropriate formulae.
Mr. Dobson:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is the planned yield from council tax in England for the financial year from 1995-96 to 1998-99 based on the view of local authority behaviour taken in the "Financial Statement and Budget Report 1996-97" expressed in (a) millions of pounds, (b) in pounds divided by the band D council tax base used for 1995-96 tax setting and (c) in pounds divided by the total number of chargeable dwellings in England in 1995-96; [13972]
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Mr. Gummer:
The Government do not set plans for the yield of council tax, which depends upon decisions made by individual authorities. The figures in chapter 4 of the "Financial Statement and Budget Report", HC 30, which relate to 1996-97 and preceding years only, show an estimate of the contribution of council tax, net of council tax benefit, to the total of general Government revenues.
(2) what is (a) the Treasury's estimate of the likely increase in the total yield of council tax in England in 1996-97, expressed in pound million and as a percentage based on the view of local authority behaviour taken in the "Financial Statement and Budget Report 1996-97", (b) the detailed worked mathematical calculation that
informs that estimate, (c) the Treasury's estimate of the increase in aggregate budgets as adjusted for the purposes of 1996-97 capping, expressed in millions of pounds and as a percentage based on the view of local authority behaviour taken in the "Financial Statement and Budget Report 1996-97" and (d) the planned increase in aggregate Government total external support for local authorities in England in 1996-97, compared to 1995-96 total external support adjusted for 1995-96 community care special transitional grant and further changes in local authority responsibilities, expressed in millions of pounds and as a percentage. [13973]
| 1995-96 | 1996-97 | |
|---|---|---|
| Estimated council tax base before collection rate adjustment (million band D equivalents) | 16.50 | 16.55 |
| Assumed average band D council tax level, £ | 609 | 656 |
| Percentage estimate of assumed collection rate | 97.2 | 97.4 |
| Estimated yield gross of council tax benefit, £ million | 9,780 | 10,574 |
| Estimated increase in gross yield £ million | -- | 794 |
| Per cent. | -- | 8.1 |
| Gross yield divided by 1995-96 tax setting tax base, £ | -- | 659 |
| Gross yield divided by 1995-96 chargeable dwellings, £ | -- | 538 |
No separate estimate is made of the increase in aggregate budgeted local authority revenue expenditure in England.
Aggregate external finance has been increased by £549 million (1.6 per cent.) above the 1995-96 level, adjusted for community care special grant and other changes in local authority responsibilities.
Mrs. Beckett:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what new discharge authorisations will be required following the separation of Nuclear Electric plc from Nuclear Electric Ltd. from Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution; how many have been granted; and what is the timetable for the remainder. [13292]
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Mr. Gummer
[holding answer 2 February 1996]: Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution has received the following applications for new discharge authorisations submitted on behalf of the AGR and PWR Co. Ltd:
| Number of authorisations applied for | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power station | Type | Waste gases, mists and dusts | Liquid waste | Combustible wastes | |
| Dungeness B | AGR | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
| Hartlepool | AGR | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| Heysham 1 | AGR | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| Heysham 2 | AGR | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| Hinkley Point B | AGR | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| Sizewell B | PWR | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
AGR=Advanced gas-cooled reactor.
PWR=Pressure water reactor.
None of the authorisations has so far been granted. HMIP aims to publish its decision on each of the applications early in March 1996. Before the decision is published, the applicant has the right to appeal to the Secretary of State for the Environment under section 26 of the Radioactive Substances Act 1993, or request a hearing from the Secretary of State for the Environment and the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food under section 28 of the Act, with respect to a refusal of an authorisation or any limitations and conditions imposed. In addition, such local authorities or other persons whom the Secretary of State and the Minister consider appropriate may be afforded a hearing. No firm timetable for publishing the decision can therefore be given.
HOME DEPARTMENT
Knives (Sheffield)
Sir Irvine Patnick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many knives were handed in in (a) the Sheffield area and (b) the Hallam constituency during the recent knives amnesty; and if he will make a statement; [13072]
- (2) how many offences were committed in the Sheffield area for each of the last three years involving knives; and if he will make a statement. [13073]
Mr. Maclean: The running of the recent knives amnesty was an operational responsibility for chief officers of police and the information was collected by police force areas. The number of knives and potentially dangerous weapons handed in in the Sheffield area was 225. The information requested on the numbers of offences involving knives is not collected centrally.
Reconvictions
Mr. Straw:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the percentage of offenders convicted of offences carrying a discretionary life sentence who are reconvicted of a second offence of similar seriousness; what is the average sentence imposed on those reconvicted of offences carrying a discretionary life sentence; what is the average time served by those reconvicted for (i) all categories of such offences, (ii) manslaughter, (iii) rape, (iv) robbery, (v) buggery,
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(vi) assault causing grievious bodily harm, (vii) aggravated burglary, (viii) firearms offences carrying life sentence as a maximum penalty and (ix) other offences carrying a maximum life sentence. [12909]
Mr. Maclean:
The information requested is not collected routinely. A sample of those convicted of indictable offences in five weeks in 1993-94 included 600 offenders convicted of sexual or violent offences carrying a discretionary life sentence, 198--33 per cent.--of whom had previous convictions for such offences. A total of 169 of the offenders with previous convictions for such offences were given a custodial sentence, five of whom were sentenced to life imprisonment. The table shows the average sentence imposed, excluding life sentences, by offence group. Information is not available on sentences actually served by the offenders included in the sample.
| Offence | Number sentenced to immediate custody on second or greater occasion | Average custodial sentence imposed (months) |
|---|---|---|
| Manslaughter | 5 | 45 |
| Rape | 8 | 81 |
| Robbery | 92 | 42 |
| Buggery | 4 | 75 |
| Wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm | 31 | 49 |
| Aggravated burglary | 3 | 74 |
| Firearms offences | 1 | 48 |
| Other offences | 20 | 34 |
| Total | 164 | 46 |
Mr. Straw: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the average sentence served by (a) burglars and (b) drug dealers imprisoned for a third such sentence; [12911]
- (2) what percentage of (a) burglars and (b) drug dealers receive a prison sentence on their third conviction for a similar offence. [12910]
Mr. Maclean: The information requested is not collected routinely. The results from a sample of those convicted of indictable offences in three weeks of 1993 are given in the table which shows the average sentence imposed. Information is not available on sentences actually served by the offenders included in the sample.
| Offence | Number convicted on a third or greater occasion | Percentage sentenced to immediate custody | Average custodial sentence imposed (months) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burglary | 1,135 | 43 | 11 |
| Drug dealing(1) | 8 | 75 | 30 |
(1) Based on drug trafficking offences monitored and reported in the Home Office Statistical Bulletin "Statistics of Drugs Seizures and Offenders dealt with, United Kingdom, 1994". These are offences of unlawful production of drugs other than cannabis, unlawful supply, possession with intent to supply unlawfully and unlawful import or export.
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