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Regulations
Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which of the 1,000 regulations identified for repeal or amendment by the Prime Minister are the responsibility
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of his Department; of those which (a) have been repealed or amended and (b) are planned to have been repealed or amended by the end of the 1995-96 parliamentary Session; and if he will list those whose repeal has saved business more than £1 million per annum. [23647]
Mr. Kynoch: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given today by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.
General Medical Practitioners
Mr. Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the whole-time equivalent number of NHS general medical practitioners working in each health board area in Scotland at the latest date for which figures are available. [24383]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: The whole-time equivalent number of unrestricted principals in each health board area in Scotland at 1 October 1995 is as follows:
| Number | |
|---|---|
| Scotland | 3,385.8 |
| Argyll and Clyde | 294.8 |
| Ayrshire and Arran | 250.0 |
| Borders | 76.0 |
| Dumfries and Galloway | 114.0 |
| Fife | 214.8 |
| Forth Valley | 188.8 |
| Grampian | 330.8 |
| Greater Glasgow | 598.5 |
| Highland | 179.8 |
| Lanarkshire | 321.5 |
| Lothian | 494.3 |
| Orkney | 24.0 |
| Shetland | 17.0 |
| Tayside | 252.0 |
| Western Isles | 29.8 |
Local Government Reorganisation
Mr. Tom Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the electorates of each of the wards in each of the new council areas in Scotland, at 16 February. [24477]
Mr. Kynoch: The information requested will shortly be placed in the Library.
Parliamentary Constituencies
Mr. Tom Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the electorates of each of the existing parliamentary constituencies in Scotland at 16 February. [24478]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: This information is not yet available centrally.
Registers of Scotland
Sir Hector Monro: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about the targets he expects the Registers of Scotland executive agency to achieve in the three-year period 1996 to 1999. [24808]
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Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: I have set the Registers of Scotland the following key targets for 1996-99:
to reduce progressively the turnround time for sasine writs from 33 days at 31 March 1996 to 25 days by 31 March 1999;
to reduce progressively the turnround time for dealings with whole on the land register from 55 days at 31 March 1996 to 25 days 31 March 1999;
to reduce unit costs in real terms by 4 per cent. against the 1995--96 target for sasine writs and 16 per cent. against the 1995-96 target for dealings with whole by 31 March 1997;
to continue the land register extension programme and achieve the transfer of the counties of Ayr and Dumfries to the land register on 1 April 1977 and Perth, Angus and Kinross on 1 April 1998;
for the trading fund to achieve a return of 6 per cent. on net capital employed over a three year period;
to complete the conversion of existing land register counties to a digitised map and computer-based text system by 1 April 1997;
to complete a full assessment of developing electronic, on-line access to the agencies databases by autumn 1996 and of the potential for linkages with other property and land databases held in Scotland; and
to maintain at least 97 per cent. of customers expressing satisfaction with the quality of work and helpfulness of staff for all parts of the business.
ENVIRONMENT
Wetland Areas
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations his Department has recently received from Friends of the Earth Cymru concerning wetland areas in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [23182]
Mr. Clappison: None. Friends of the Earth has sent a copy of its report, "A Review of UK Compliance with the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance" to the Department's European wildlife division in Bristol.
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his policy on the protection of wetland areas in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [23184]
Mr. Clappison: As a party to the Ramsar convention on wetlands of international importance, the UK is committed to protecting wetlands and promoting their wise use. UK wetlands are protected through a combination of site-based and policy-based mechanisms. These are described in detail in the UK national report to the sixth meeting of the conference of the parties to the Ramsar convention, and planning policy guidance note No. 9 on nature conservation, copies of which are in the Library.
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the wetland areas in (a) England and (b) Wales which have been damaged over the past five years; and if he will make a statement. [23181]
Mr. Clappison: Information on the UK's internationally important wetlands with recorded or predicted negative changes in ecological character is
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included in the UK national report to the sixth meeting of the conference of the parties to the Ramsar convention, a copy of which is in the Library.
Secondary Liquid Fuel
Mr. Bennett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) on what date Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution revised the standard assessment levels for heavy metals in secondary liquid fuels; [23247]
- (2) if he will place in the Library the data and analysis which formed the basis of Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution's decision to revise the standard assessment levels for heavy metals in secondary liquid fuel. [23245]
Mr. Clappison: I do not intend to place such data and analysis in the Library.
Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution has developed environmental assessment levels for use in environmental, economic and best practicable environmental option assessments which are carried out by operators of industrial processes controlled under integrated pollution control. There are no specific EALs for particular processes or fuels.
Draft EALs were included in the consultation document entitled "Environmental, Economic and BPEO Assessment Principles for Integrated Pollution Control" published by HMIP in April 1994.
In the light of comments received during the consultation exercise, HMIP reviewed the overall BPEO approach together with the methodology used to set EALs.
A revised approach to the derivation of EALs was agreed in January 1995 and amended values were published in volume III of a set of consultation documents in July 1995.
Following further consultation, the revised guidance is due to be published by HMSO in the near future.
Mr. Raynsford:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many (a) United Kingdom, (b) European and (c) international standards committees are chaired by employees of the Building Research Establishment; [23098]
(3) what has been the cost in each of the past five years of the representation of United Kingdom interests on (a) United Kingdom, (b) European and (c) international standards committees by Building Research Establishment employees; [23094]
(4) how many (a) United Kingdom, (b) European and (c) international standards committees employ staff from the Building Research Establishment as representatives of United Kingdom interests; and how many of these are leading the United Kingdom team on their committee. [23099]
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Mr. Robert B. Jones:
Building Research Establishment participation on United Kingdom, European and international standards committees, including steering committees, technical committees and working groups, is as follows:
(2) what has been the cost of the Building Research Establishment European standards section in each of the past five years; [23090]
| Standards committees | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | European | International | |
| Number of committees chaired by employees of the Building Research Establishment | 33 | 22 | 5 |
| Number of committees with employees from the Building Research Establishment as representatives of United Kingdom interests (excluding those chaired by BRE) | 329 | 41 | 17 |
| Number of BRE staff who are leading the United Kingdom team on European and international committees | -- | 7 | 4 |
The cost to the Department of the Environment of the Building Research Establishment European standards section for years prior to 1993-94 is not readily available. Since then, the cost to the DOE of the section--to support standards work--is: 1993-94 £244,000; 1995-96 £190,000 (budget). The cost in each of the past five years of the representation of United Kingdom interests on standards committees by Building Research Establishment employees is not separately identified as this is included within the research and application programme carried out for the DOE.
Mr. Raynsford:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what has been the total building and fitting-out cost of the large building test facility at the Cardington site of the Building Research Establishment; [23100]
(3) what has been the total cost of building 16 at the Building Research Establishment. [23103]
Mr. Jones:
The total investment in the large building test facility at the Cardington site to date is £1.68 million. The total estimated building and fitting-out costs of the Burn hall and the Garston site is £3.49 million. The total cost of the new environmental office and seminar block at the Garston site--replacing building 16--to date is £1.52 million, excluding demolition cost of the old building: the estimated total cost of the building to completion is £3.83 million.
Mr. Raynsford:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the cost of research carried out for his Department by the Building Research Establishment in each of the past five years; and what is the budget for such research in (a) 1995-96, (b) 1996-97 and (c) 1997-98, (i) in total and (ii) as a percentage of his Department's total research expenditure. [23091]
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Mr. Jones:
Expenditure on research and technical advice from the Building Research Establishment for the DOE in each of the past five years was:
(2) what are the total estimated building and fitting-out costs of the Burn hall at the Building Research Establishment; [23102]
As percentages of the Department's total research expenditure, the figures are:
1990-91: £22.1 million 1
1991-92: £26.2 million 1
1992-93: £34.1 million
1993-94: £34.0 million
1994-95: £34.4 million
1995-96: £34.6 million (estimated).
Firm estimates for future years are not available. They will depend on the outcome of the bidding and tendering process for the DOE's programme.
34.2 per cent.
32.9 per cent.
40.0 per cent.
37.5 per cent.
37.4 per cent.
39.3 per cent. (estimated).
Mr. Raynsford:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will place in the Library a copy of PA Consulting's report on the future of the Building Research Establishment; [23095]
1 Figures exclude expenditure by the energy efficiency office, which became part of the DOE in 1992-93.
- (2) when he expects to publish Government proposals for the future of the Building Research Establishment; [23096]
(3) what assessment he has made of the advantages of developing the Building Research Establishment as a national construction centre. [23097]
Mr. Jones: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has considered carefully the report from PA Consulting on options for transferring the Building Research Establishment to the private sector. I have relayed to him the outcome of my meetings with representatives of the construction industry. He has taken into account also the views of the advisory group which oversaw the work of the consultants, of BRE management and of BRE staff who made their position known to the consultants, to his Department and to me. He has concluded that BRE should remain as a single entity because it offers a unique range of complementary skills and technologies and fragmentation would substantially increase costs to customers and reduce efficiency. He has also concluded that one of the two alternative recommendations proposed by PA Consulting sets out the right route towards BRE's future structure. It is his view that the best future for BRE would be as part of a national centre for construction, established by the construction industry to improve industry technology, innovation and competitiveness.
This gives the construction industry the opportunity to translate into reality its concept of a national centre for construction--NCC--which would encompass BRE and would take the form of a company limited by guarantee. This approach would channel directly BRE's expertise towards stimulating innovation and helping the industry improve its performance while maintaining the objectivity
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and independence of BRE advice. The Government are prepared to share in the funding of a study which the industry proposes to set in hand so as to put in place within six months a business plan for an NCC. My right hon. Friend would look to the industry to take account of the views of BRE management and staff and the university sector, such as that already initiated by University College London in developing this plan. He is clear, however, that delivery of a satisfactory business plan carrying industry commitment to ownership is essential within the six-month deadline if the proposal for an NCC encompassing BRE is to proceed.
My right hon. Friend wishes to ensure that the transfer of BRE to an NCC can be implemented swiftly at the end of the six-month planning period. He has therefore put in hand work within his Department on preparations which would lead rapidly at the end of the six-month period to the implementation of the NCC plan by February 1997. As a contingency, however, against the possibility that the industry is unable to prepare a satisfactory plan within the initial six months, the Department will also prepare for sale or contractorisation of BRE to be completed by February 1997. This would be achieved through competitive tender under arrangements to maintain the independence, objectivity and authority which BRE currently provides. If no satisfactory purchaser were to emerge, a competitive contract would be let for management of BRE.
My right hon. Friend has placed in the Library of the House a copy of the report from PA Consulting, though such commercially sensitive information as might be of use to a potential purchaser has been removed. He has also placed in the Library the report of the advisory group which oversaw the consultants' study.
Mr. Garel-Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the transfer of the Building Research Establishment to the private sector. [24784]
Mr. Gummer:
I have considered carefully the report from PA Consulting on options for transferring the Building Research Establishment to the private sector. My hon. Friend the Minister of State has relayed to me the outcome of his meetings with representatives of the construction industry. I have taken into account also the views of the advisory group which oversaw the work of the consultants, of BRE management and of BRE staff who made their position known to the consultants, to my Department and to the Minister of State direct. I have concluded that BRE should remain as a single entity because it offers a unique range of complementary skills and technologies and fragmentation would substantially increase costs to customers and reduce efficiency. I have also concluded that one of the two alternative recommendations proposed by PA Consulting sets out the right route towards BRE's future structure.
It is my view that the best future for BRE would be as part of a national centre for construction--NCC--
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established by the construction industry to improve industry technology, innovation and competitiveness.
This gives the construction industry the opportunity to translate into reality its concept of a national centre for construction which would encompass BRE and would take the form of a company limited by guarantee. This approach would channel directly BRE's expertise towards stimulating innovation and helping the industry improve its performance while maintaining the objectivity and independence of BRE advice. The Government are prepared to share in the funding of a study which the industry proposed to set in hand so as to put in place within six months a business plan for an NCC. I would look to the industry to take account of the views of BRE management and staff and the university sector, such as that already initiated by University College London in developing this plan. I am clear, however, that delivery of a satisfactory business plan carrying industry commitment to ownership is essential within the six-month deadline if the proposal for an NCC encompassing BRE is to proceed.
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