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Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council
Mr. Fearn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions on what date the review of Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council will be published by the Local Government Commission for England. [4046]
Mr. Raynsford: The Commission have been directed to prepare the Final Report by 25 November 1997. A report containing their draft recommendations is to be published on 1 July 1997.
Dog Fouling Fines
Mr. Blizzard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will assess the advantage of allowing local authorities to use for enforcement purposes the revenue from fines levied under dog fouling legislation. [4027]
Angela Eagle:
We believe that local authorities prosecuting criminal cases should have no pecuniary interest in them. A local authority does not receive the fine imposed by a Court on an offender in cases under
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dog fouling byelaws or the Dogs (Fouling of Land) Act 1996. It follows that the local authority should not keep the income from any fixed penalty notices which it issues for offences under the 1996 Act.
Mr. Flynn:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what studies his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the pedestrianisation of sections of London; and if he will make a statement. [3665]
Mr. Raynsford
[holding answer 18 June 1997]: My Department has not traditionally commissioned studies into pedestrianisation schemes. In London this has been a matter for Boroughs to take forward as the local transport authority. However, the Traffic Director for London may, where appropriate, liaise with Boroughs in assessing the impact on traffic of specific schemes. We will shortly be consulting on our plans for a new strategic authority for London which would have transport responsibilities.
My Department, in association with the Department of National Heritage, English Heritage and London Transport, has contributed to the "World Squares for All" study led by Westminster City Council, tasked with developing a masterplan for the Whitehall Conservation Area. This may include elements of pedestrianisation. Proposals will be published for public consultation in September.
Mr. Rooney:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to invite further bids under the single regeneration budget; and what funds will be available in (a) 1998-99, (b) 1999-00 and (c) 2000-01. [4804]
Angela Eagle:
My hon. Friend the Minister for the Regions, Regeneration and Planning announced on 22 May, Official Report, columns 152-53, that the Government would continue with Round 4 of the Single Regeneration Budget Challenge Fund, altered to take account of our policy priorities. Bids have been invited by 26 September 1997. On current expenditure plans, total provision nationally for the SRB Challenge Fund of £568 million in 1998-99 and £625 million in 1999-00 includes £12.5 million in 1998-99 and £75 million in 1999-00 for new schemes approved under the current bidding round. The level of resources available for new schemes in each Government Office region will depend on the levels of commitments in each region from the three previous Challenge Fund rounds. Expenditure plans have not yet been set for the year 2000-01. No decisions have yet been taken on whether to have further bidding rounds after Round 4.
Mr. Flynn:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will list the five most common primary reasons for driving bans for a period of (a) one year or under, (b) one to two years, (c) two to three years, (d) over three years and (e) life; and if he will make a statement; [3663]
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Mr. Michael
[holding answers 18 June 1997]: I have been asked to reply.
Figures on the number of drivers currently disqualified from driving could be made available only at disproportionate cost.
The number of disqualifications imposed by the courts by period of disqualification and by offence group is published annually in "Offences relating to motor vehicles England and Wales, Supplementary tables" (tables 13 and 14).
Copies of these publications are in the Library.
Ms Roseanna Cunningham:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to match for Scotland the increase in funding for HIV-AIDS treatment in 1997-98 made by the Department of Health in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement. [4213]
Mr. Galbraith
[holding answer 19 June 1997]: Health Boards were advised in March this year of the funds earmarked for the treatment and care of HIV-AIDS patients in their areas in 1997-98. It is open to individual boards to augment these resources from their general allocations in the light of local circumstances. I am currently assessing whether further action is appropriate.
Ms Cunningham:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the number of HIV-AIDS sufferers receiving treatment (i) by health board area and (ii) in Scotland as a whole; what was the spending per head on treatment and care of HIV-AIDS sufferers (i) by health board area and (ii) in Scotland as a whole, in the most recent year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [4215]
Mr. Galbraith
[holding answer 14 June 1997]: Around 1,000 people in Scotland are estimated to be receiving treatment for HIV infection or AIDS. Of this total, some 870 are being treated within the Lothian, Greater Glasgow, Tayside and Grampian Health Board areas. In the current financial year, £9.6 million has been allocated by way of funds earmarked for HIV-AIDS treatment and care. On that basis, expenditure per patient would amount to around £9,600. But that figure does not take into account any additional resources which individual boards may commit from their general allocations.
Mrs. Ray Michie:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total value of and how many home energy efficiency grants were paid to residents in (a) the Highlands and Islands and (b) Scotland as a whole, in 1996-97. [3798]
Angela Eagle:
I have been asked to reply.
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(2) how many and what percentage of drivers are currently banned from driving for a period of (a) one year or under, (b) one to two years, (c) two to three years, (d) over three years and (e) life; and if he will make a statement. [3662]
| Number of grants | Total value £ | |
|---|---|---|
| Scotland | 38,135 | 5,754,000 |
| Highlands and Islands | 3,085 | 512,000 |
Because of the way scheme data are collected, the Highlands and Islands information does not include figures for the Argyll and Bute area, which incorporates Inverclyde, Dumbarton, Renfrew and parts of west Glasgow. 3,774 grants were paid in this area, with a total value of £531,570.
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Environmental Taxes
Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on use of environmental taxes to encourage industry to be more competitive. [3022]
Dawn Primarolo: I have been asked to reply.
It would not be appropriate to comment in the run-up to the Budget.
TREASURY
Bank of England
Mr. Denzil Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he intends to bring forward the proposed Bill to give the Bank of England operational responsibility for setting interest rates. [2088]
Mrs. Liddell: The Bank of England Bill will be introduced after the summer Recess.
Ways and Means Advance
Mr. Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the prohibition of overdraft facilities with the Bank of England in article 104 in the Maastricht treaty will come into effect. [1447]
Mrs. Liddell: In accordance with Article 109e(3), Article 104 took effect at the start of the second stage of Economic and Monetary Union on 1 January 1994.
However, paragraph 11 of Protocol 11 to the EC Treaty states that "the United Kingdom may maintain its 'ways and means' facility with the Bank of England if and so long as the United Kingdom does not move to the third stage [of Economic and Monetary Union]".
Mr. Heald:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the outstanding ways and means advance from the Issue Department at the Bank of England to the National Loans Fund at the end of the current financial year. [3561]
Mrs. Liddell:
Outstanding ways and means advances from Issue Department at the Bank of England to the National Loans Fund at the end of 1996-97 were £14,322 million. Whilst current Government policy is to
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keep the stock of short-term financing (both the ways and means advance and Treasury bills) roughly constant from year-to-year, its composition depends on fluctuations in the month-to-month pattern of factors affecting the liquidity position of the banking system, including the note issue and net government receipts or payments. As these can be large and unpredictable, it is difficult to give a meaningful forecast of the ways and means advance for the end of this financial year.
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