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Standard Spending Assessment (Tyne and Wear)
Mr. Byers: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the standard spending assessment for 1996-97 in pounds per head for metropolitan councils within Tyne and Wear. [39065]
Sir Paul Beresford: The standard spending assessments for 1996-97 were as follows:
| £ | |
|---|---|
| Gateshead | 780.77 |
| Newcastle upon Tyne | 821.19 |
| North Tyneside | 749.40 |
| South Tyneside | 800.78 |
| Sunderland | 793.31 |
| Northumbria Police Authority | 65.32 |
| Tyne and Wear Fire and Civil Defence Authority | 31.75 |
Water Supplies
Mr. Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what volume of water was (a) supplied to customers and (b) lost through evaporation and leakage by each of the privatised water companies in each year since privatisation; and if he will show (b) as a percentage of (a). [38940]
Mr. Clappison: Water delivered and leakage levels for each company are given in the Office of Water Services' reports on the cost of water delivered and sewage collected. Copies of these reports are in the House Library. Figures prior to 1992-93 are not available on a comparable basis.
Estimates of the volume of public water supplied by each water service company prior to 1992--93 are available from the Water Services Association.
Empty Housing
Mr. Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many (a) Government, (b) housing association and (c) council-owned homes there were in (i) York, (ii) North Yorkshire, (iii) Yorkshire and Humberside and (iv) England; and what percentage of these houses were empty, on 1 April of each year since 1979. [38999]
Mr. Clappison: I will write to the hon. Member.
23 Jul 1996 : Column: 311
Correspondence
Mr. Devlin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the appeals branch of the local government pensions unit intends to reply to correspondence from Mrs. J. E. Lambert of 13 Finchfield close, Eaglescliffe, Stockton-on-Tees TS16 0EY. [39028]
Sir Paul Beresford: A reply, explaining that the Department was still awaiting information from Middlesbrough borough council, was sent to Mrs. Lambert on 3 July in response to her letter of 30 June.
Compulsory Competitive Tendering
Mr. David Nicholson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what reports or advice he received from the Audit Commission in relation to his Department's proposals for a new framework for compulsory competitive tendering. [38949]
Sir Paul Beresford: The proposals to change the CCT framework took account of discussions between officials in my Department and the Audit Commission about the interpretation of credits and allowances in CCT calculations. Since these proposals were published, we have received technical comments from Audit Commission officials.
Mr. Nicholson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the extent to which officials in his Department, responsible for developing policy towards compulsory competitive tendering, visit local authorities to determine episodes of (a) good and (b) bad practices; and if he will make a statement on the value of national legislation and regulation to deal with weaknesses in some local authorities. [38950]
Sir Paul Beresford: In the past 12 months, the relevant officials have made approximately 50 visits to local authorities to discuss compulsory competitive tendering matters, including good and bad practice. In addition, officials speak at and/or attend conferences and seminars on CCT which are designed for local authority staff.
Overall, CCT legislation has proved effective in promoting greater efficiency in the provision of local authority services. The framework includes enforcement powers for the Secretary of State to use against authorities that act in an anti-competitive way and/or where an in-house team fails to meet prescribed financial targets.
We have no plans to change the enforcement provisions, but we are currently considering whether changes need to be made to the CCT framework for professional services and housing management.
Mr. Parry:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the names of the chairman and directors of the Arrowcroft Investment Co. [39175]
Sir Paul Beresford:
The information that the hon. Member requires is not held by the Department of the Environment.
Mr. Clapham:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many cases were settled under the
23 Jul 1996 : Column: 312
Pneumoconiosis etc. (Workers Compensation) (Payment of Claims) Amendment Regulations in the last year for which figures are available; of those how many payments were for pneumoconiosis and how many were for asbestosis; what was the average age of those claimants who received a payment; and what was the average payment made. [38972]
Sir Paul Beresford:
In 1995-96, 363 cases were settled under the Pneumoconiosis etc. (Workers' Compensation) (Payment of Claims) Amendment Regulations. Twenty-five per cent. of payments were for pneumoconiosis as defined in the Social Security Act 1975, which includes asbestosis. The average age of all claimants who received payments under the Act was 64 years and the average payment of all claimants who received a payment under the Act was £11,430.
Ms Hodge:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many staff are assumed in his Department's budget, employed (i) full time and (ii) part time, (a) to work on the press and media and (b) to provide information and publicity in 1996-97. [39365]
Sir Paul Beresford:
As at 1 July, there are 30 information officers--including one part time--employed by the Department of the Environment. All deal with a full range of information services including publicity, press and media handling.
Ms Hodge:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many staff were employed full time or part time (a) to provide information and publicity and (b) on press and media in (i) 1995-96, (ii) 1994-95 and (iii) 1993-94. [39417]
Sir Paul Beresford:
The numbers of staff employed as Information Officers by the Department of the Environment as at 31 March for each of the years in question were:
Ms Hodge:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the cost budgeted for staff, employed full time or part time, to provide information and publicity in 1996-97. [39442]
Sir Paul Beresford:
For 1996-97, the salary budget for staff employed as information officers is £1,039,145.00. This figure relates to 32.5 complemented posts for the year. However, as at 1 July the actual staff in post was 30--which includes one part time.
Ms Hodge:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the cost of staff employed full time or part time (i) to provide information and publicity and (ii) to work on the press and media in (a) 1995-96, (b) 1994-95 and (c) 1993-94. [39433]
23 Jul 1996 : Column: 313
Sir Paul Beresford:
The outturn salary costs for staff employed as information officers by the Department of the Environment for the years in question were:
These staff dealt with a full range of information services including publicity, press and media handling.
1995-96: 32 (including 1 part time and 1 employed by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution).
1994-95: 3 (including 1 employed by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution).
1993-94: 30.
Ms Hodge:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his Department's budget in 1996-97 for consultants to assist with information, publicity, press and media. [39351]
1995-96: £976,477.00
1994-95: £890,056.00
1993-94: £902,002.00.
Sir Paul Beresford: The Department does not employ consultants to assist with information, publicity, press and media handling. This work is carried out by in-house information staff.
Pre- and post-campaign research is carried out by external consultants in order to ensure value for money in our publicity campaigns. This research is funded as an integral part of a campaign and is not the subject of a separate budget.
As a supplementary exercise, however a consultancy budget of £20,000 has been set aside in 1996-97 so that the various publicity and market research techniques available can be evaluated.
Mr. Morley:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if safe and effective non-toxic shotgun cartridges are available for use over wetland sites; what assessment he has made of the extent to which the voluntary phase-out of lead gunshot in wetlands is being adhered to; and if he will make a statement. [38794]
Mr. Clappison:
A number of non-toxic alternatives to lead shot are available, many of which have been tested at a ballistic testing facility partly funded by this Department. The Department is currently funding two relevant research projects, one aimed at assessing the sales of non-toxic shot and the other to monitor the levels of lead ingestion in waterfowl.
Mr. Morley:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps are being taken to provide shotgun licence holders, with special reference to wildfowlers, with guidance on the safety and efficacy of non-toxic gunshot before the next wildfowling season. [38792]
Mr. Clappison:
Guidelines on the use of non-toxic shot in 12 bore shotguns are currently being prepared.
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