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Community Projects

Mr. Illsley: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for what reasons there is a planned decrease in spending on community projects within the Department of Economic Development in (a) 1996-97 and (b) 1997-98. [26203]

Mr. Ancram: Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Training and Employment Agency under its chief executive, Mr. Ian Walters. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to given.

Letter from Ian Walters to Mr. Eric Illsley, dated 22 April 1996:

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked me as Chief Executive of the Training and Employment Agency to reply to your question about the funding of community projects.
The decision to reduce the budget allocated to the Action for Community Employment (ACE) programme was taken against the background of the very encouraging performance of the Northern Ireland economy. With unemployment now at its lowest level for 14 years, employment opportunities increasing and with record numbers of job vacancies being notified by employers to Training and Employment Agency offices, the need to maintain community based temporary work programmes at former levels has diminished. Public Expenditure priorities have moved towards measures which will further encourage and sustain these very positive economic trends.
This Agency recognises a continuing need to assist job seekers and, in addition to its many other services and programmes, still expects to spend £46 million this financial year to provide over 8000 places for the long term unemployed on community based projects funded under ACE and the pilot Community Work Programme. In addition, £2 million is available under the package of support for ACE schemes announced by Baroness Denton on 19 February 1996.
I hope that you find this reply helpful.

Out-of-town Retail Centres

Mr. Illsley: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what formal public consultation is required in respect of plans to develop out-of-town retail centres. [26205]

Mr. Ancram: Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Planning Service under its chief executive, Mr. T. W. Stewart. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

22 Apr 1996 : Column: 45

Letter from T. W. Stewart to Mr. Eric Illsley, dated 22 April 1996:

Mr Moss has asked me to reply to your Question about formal public consultations in respect of plans to develop out of town retail centres.
Where an application for planning permission is made, except in certain minor cases, Article 21 of the Planning (Northern Ireland) Order 1991 requires that a notice of the application is published in at least one newspaper circulating in the locality in which the land to which the application site relates is situated. In addition, occupiers of land adjoining the application site are notified by means of a non statutory Neighbour Notification Scheme. The appropriate local District Council is also consulted on all applications.
Certain major applications are subjected to special procedures under Article 31 of the 1991 Order which may involve the holding of a local public inquiry by the Planning Appeals Commission for the purpose of considering and reporting on representations made in respect of an application.

Political Organisations

Rev. Martin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the evidence he has collated about the existence of (a) the British Ulster Unionist party, (b) Democratic Partnership, (c) Independent Democratic Unionist party, (d) No Going Back, (e) the Northern Ireland party, (f) the Northern Ireland Women's Coalition, (g) Ulster Christian Democrat party and (h) Ulster's Independent Voice; and which have functioned as political parties. [25979]

Sir Patrick Mayhew: Each of these organisations responded to the consultation paper issued by the Government on 3 April, and made representations to be included on the list of political parties eligible to contest the forthcoming elections in Northern Ireland.

SCOTLAND

Barlinnie Prison (Asbestos)

Mr. McFall: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on what date the Scottish Prison Service chief executive received the report of the Institute of Occupational Medicine on residual asbestos remaining in Barlinnie prison. [24871]

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: The subject of the question relates to matters undertaken by the Scottish Prison Service. I have asked its chief executive, Mr. E. W. Frizzell, to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from E. W. Frizzell to Mr. John McFall, dated 22 April 1996:

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton has asked me to reply to your question asking about the date on which I received the report of the Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM) on residual asbestos remaining in Barlinnie Prison.
The report was received in SPS HQ on 25 January and was passed to Barlinnie on 26 January. Subsequent tests which the IOM undertook on Barlinnie's behalf during March confirmed that asbestos levels were well within the safety limits. Tenders are now being sought for the immediate removal of what has been classified as "poor" quality asbestos. Other areas where asbestos is present but is classified as being either in a good or fair condition will be removed as part of an action plan being prepared by local management. In the meantime such areas will be monitored regularly at 3 monthly intervals, and where there are any signs of deterioration, arrangements will be made immediately for appropriate removal.

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Electricity Generating Plants

Mr. Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the capacity utilisation of electricity generating plants in Scotland; and if he will make a statement. [25315]

Mr. Michael Forsyth: The total electricity generating capacity in Scotland is approximately 10 GW. This total excludes the oil-fired generating station at Inverkip which is presently under care and maintenance. Scotland's peak winter demand is about 6 GW.

Gas-fired Generating Unit (Gartcosh)

Mr. Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the consequences for the Scottish coal industry of the proposed gas-fired generating unit at Gartcosh. [25314]

Mr. Michael Forsyth: PowerGen's application for consent under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 to build a gas-fired generating plant at Gartcosh is at present the subject of a consultation exercise. It would not be appropriate for me to make any assessment of the possible impact of PowerGen's proposals until the consultation exercise is complete. It may be appropriate to hold a public inquiry.

Mr. Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he plans to make a decision on a public inquiry into the application under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 by Powergen to construct a gas-fired generating unit at Gartcosh. [25316]

Mr. Forsyth: The relevant planning authority has a statutory period of four months in which to submit a report to me on PowerGen's proposal to build a power station at Gartcosh. Once the report is received, I will consider it together with the advice of my consultees and any representations I may receive from other interested parties. I will then decide whether it is necessary to hold a public inquiry. Such an inquiry is mandatory if the planning authority formally objects to the proposals.

Mr. Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what consultations he plans to hold before reaching a decision on the application under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 submitted to him by Powergen. [25317]

Mr. Forsyth: Before determining PowerGen's application, I shall follow the procedures set out in the Electricity Act 1989 and the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Regulations 1988, which entail giving due consideration to the views of the relevant planning authority. I shall also consult other interested parties, including Scottish Natural Heritage and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency. It is open to interested parties to respond to the proposals. I shall take account of all representations received.

Mr. Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he plans to make a decision on the application by PowerGen for consent under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 to construct a gas-fired generating unit at Gartcosh. [25318]

Mr. Forsyth: PowerGen's application for consent under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 was received in the Scottish Office on 5 March. It is not possible at this stage for me to give an idea as to when I will be in a position to reach a decision on the application.

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Mr. Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the applications for consent he has received under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989; and what decisions he has made on those applications. [25319]

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Mr. Forsyth: The information is set out in the table, which lists all section 36 applications received in the Scottish Office since the Electricity Act 1989 was introduced.

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Applicant	Application date	Proposals	Decision date	Decision
Hydro-Electric	4 March 1991	Extension to Peterhead power station	5 June 1991	Approved
Scottish Nuclear Ltd.	1 may 1992	Dry Store for spent fuel Storage, Torness, East Lothian	Application withdrawn 10 May 1995	--
ScottishPower	16 September 1992	Extension to Valleyfied Ash Lagoons, Valleyfied, Fife	12 May 1994	Approved
Global Energy Ltd.	24 March 1993	Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle power station (75mw) Westfield, Fife	15 July 1993	Approved
Hydro-Electric	6 April 1994	Extension to Lerwick power station	31 May 1994	Approved
Scottish Power	1 July 1994	Flue Gas Desulphurisation Plant at Longannet Power Station, Fife	23 February 1995Approved
Norweb	10 March 1995	Hydro electricity generating scheme (3.2mw), Inverbroom, Wester Ross	Under consideration	--
Highland Light and Power	22 December 1995	Hydro electricity generating scheme (2.1mw), Gairloch Estate, Wester Ross	Under consideration	--
PowerGen	1 March 1996	Combined Cycle Gas Turbine power station (350mw x 2), Gartcosh, Near Coatbridge	Under consideration	--

22 Apr 1996 : Column: 47

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