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Local Government Reorganisation
Mr. Sykes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what finances he has made available to authorities that have been or are to be reorganised on 1 April 1995-96, and 1997 for reoganisation costs incurred by them in 1995-96; and if he will make a statement. [40955]
Mr. Curry: On 26 April I invited authorities that have been or are to be reorganised on or before 1 April 1997 to submit outturn figures of the amount of expenditure they incurred on transitional costs of reorganisation in 1995-96. On the basis, inter alia, of the information provided by the authorities, I have decided the amounts of supplementary credit approvals to allocate towards such costs in 1995-96. I have given priority to authorities that were reorganised on or before 1 April 1996.
| Authority | 1995-96 |
|---|---|
| Isle of Wight | |
| Isle of Wight Council | 1,536 |
| Cleveland | |
| Cleveland County Council | 3,169 |
| Hartlepool Borough Council | 3,200 |
| Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council | 2,891 |
| Middlesborough Borough Council | 2,160 |
| Stockton on Tees Borough Council | 2,947 |
| Avon | |
| Avon County Council | 2,910 |
| Bristol City Council | 2,719 |
| North Somerset District Council | 3,197 |
| Bath and North East Somerset Council | 1,769 |
| Bath City Council | 299 |
| Wansdyke District Council | 715 |
| South Gloucestershire Council | 1,790 |
| Kingswood Borough Council | 438 |
| Northavon District Council | 484 |
| Humberside | |
| Humberside County Council | 2,900 |
| Hull City Council | 3,080 |
| East Riding of Yorkshire Council | 1,200 |
| Beverley Borough Council | 800 |
| Boothferry Borough Council | 90 |
| East Yorkshire Borough Council | 864 |
| Holderness Borough Council | 500 |
| North Lincolnshire Council | 1,898 |
| Glanford Borough Council | 468 |
| Scunthorpe Borough Council | 626 |
| North East Lincolnshire DC | 1,634 |
| Cleethorpes Borough Council | 394 |
| Great Grimsby | 922 |
| North Yorkshire | |
| North Yorkshire County Council | 1,400 |
| Ryedale District Council | -- |
| Selby District Council | 685 |
| York District Council | 2,996 |
| York City Council | 550 |
| Total | 51,231 |
16 Oct 1996 : Column: 1068
In addition, £200,000 has been issued, and distributed by the Home Office, for the reorganisation costs of combined fire authorities.
On 29 November 1995 I announced that I had considered carefully the bids submitted by authorities that are to be reorganised in 1997, but that, in my view, none of the bids established a sufficiently strong case to justify an allocation of SCA for 1995-96, Official Report, column 734. I have taken the same view following consideration of outturn bids submitted by these authorities. I have, however, issued capitalisation directions for the net eligible revenue expenditure incurred.
Sir Irvine Patnick:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are his proposals in respect of the Sheffield and Tinsley canal. [40957]
Mr. Robert B. Jones:
Under the provisions of the Transport Act 1968, I have today made an order to upgrade the Sheffield and Tinsley canal from a remainder to cruising waterway.
16 Oct 1996 : Column: 1069
British Waterways, which manages the canal, has in partnership with Sheffield city council and Sheffield development corporation, restored it to cruising standard. Reclassification is widely supported by local authorities, the boating industry and waterway user groups and will play an important part in regenerating the surrounding area. Significant public and private investment has already been committed to the area, and I am sure that upgrading the canal will boost investor confidence and help secure future investment.
Mr. Allen:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what sums from public funds were allocated for promoting European week for Health and Safety; and if he will make a statement. [40850]
Sir Paul Beresford:
The European Week for Safety and Health was aimed to encourage organisations themselves to raise awareness about hazards in the workplace and to be more effective in managing health and safety. In the UK we especially encouraged participation in the "Good Health is Good Business" campaign. I am extremely pleased that over 10,000 UK organisations registered an interest in participating in the European week. The Health and Safety Executive supported the week at a cost of £50,000.
Mr. Allason:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will provide financial assistance to Torbay borough council under the Bellwin scheme for the costs incurred in dealing with exceptional storms in January 1996. [41218]
Mr. Curry:
I am satisfied that financial assistance under the Bellwin scheme is justified given the exceptional nature of the storms between 20 and 24 January 1996. A scheme will, therefore, be established under section 155 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989. Grant will be paid to cover 85 per cent. of eligible costs which are above a threshold, and which have been incurred by Torbay borough council in dealing with the aftermath of those storms.
Mr. Nicholas Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will examine how local needs are defined by housing associations seeking planning permission; and what advice his Department currently issues as to how these should be defined. [41199]
Mr. Clappison:
Housing associations do not themselves define local housing needs. The responsibility to define and prioritise local housing needs rests with the local authority, in consultation with housing associations, the Housing Corporation, Government regional offices, local developers and other with an interest.
The Department provides guidance each year to local authorities on how to prepare their housing strategy and housing investment programme bid. The Housing Corporation also issues a national policy statement each
16 Oct 1996 : Column: 1070
year, containing details of the investment strategy for the next bidding round. Each August, the Housing Corporation publishes regional policy statements, containing details of the agreed local housing needs and priorities. Housing associations are invited to prepare schemes to meet these needs, and to submit them to the corporation for funding from the approved development programme.
Once a scheme is approved, it is for the association to seek planning permission in the normal way.
Mr. Amess:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the Commission for the New Towns will be wound up; and what are its remaining powers.[41235]
Sir Paul Beresford:
I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government, Housing and Urban Regeneration on 15 May 1996, Official Report, columns 489-90. A decision on the future of the Commission for the New Towns will be made in due course. In the meantime, it continues with all its normal activities.
Mr. Amess:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what programme has been set for the Commission for the New Towns at Basildon. [41229]
Sir Paul Beresford:
The Commission for the New Towns continues to dispose of the remaining new town land holdings and other assets at a rate consistent with maximising receipts and securing value for money, while also disengaging from its remaining liabilities. This applies to all towns where it is involved, including Basildon.
Mr. Nigel Evans:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what test results are on the public register for kiln 6 at Castle Cement's Ribblesdale plant at Clitheroe when burning coal only or coal and cemfuel. [41236]
Mr. Clappison:
Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution--now the Environment Agency--carried out tests in respect of kiln 5 at Ribblesdale plant. Since kiln 6 is a similar kiln, the inspectorate did not consider it necessary to carry out tests for that kiln also. There are therefore no test results in the public register in relation to kiln 6, but all test results for kiln 5 are in the register.
Mr. Evans:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much pet coke has been burnt in kilns at Ribblesdale--Castle Cement, Clitheroe--in each year since 1990; and in which kilns. [41237]
Mr. Clappison:
No pet coke has been burnt at the Ribblesdale plant since 1990.
Mr. Stern:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has to resolve uncertainties about the statutory powers available to local authorities to provide community alarm schemes for their residents; and if he will make a statement. [41241]
16 Oct 1996 : Column: 1071
Mr. Curry:
Community alarm schemes have become an increasingly common way to help vulnerable people to feel more secure in their own homes. Such schemes enable people in distress to summon assistance quickly and can be used to help the elderly to remain in their own homes, or support disabled people living in sheltered housing. They can also be useful in tackling crimes such as repeat burglary, domestic violence or racial harassment.
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