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Listed Buildings
Mr. Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what powers are available to local authorities to require owners of listed buildings to maintain them; how he monitors the performance of local authorities in discharging their duties in respect of listed buildings; and what powers he has in respect of listed buildings which a local authority fails to protect. [68852]
Mr. Alan Howarth: I have been asked to reply.
Owners of listed buildings are under no specific duty to maintain their properties, though it will normally be in their interest to do so. However, local authorities have statutory powers to take action where a building has deteriorated to the extent that its preservation may be at risk. An authority can serve a repairs notice on the owner of a listed building specifying works it considers necessary for the building's preservation. If no action is taken in response to the notice, the authority can begin compulsory purchase proceedings. In the case of an unoccupied listed building, an authority can--having served notice on the owner--carry out works it considers urgently necessary for the building's preservation and recover its costs.
My right hon. Friend has powers which are broadly similar to those of local authorities and which he can exercise where he considers that an authority has itself failed to take action. However, his policy is to treat them as reserve powers for use only in exceptional circumstances.
My Department does not specifically monitor the performance of individual local authorities, but we would normally expect to look into cases where important buildings are reported to be at risk. Planning Policy Guidance Note 15: Planning and the Historic Environment urges all authorities to maintain and strengthen their commitment to stewardship of the historic environment, to reflect that commitment in their allocation of resources and to consider the use of their statutory powers wherever appropriate.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list his official engagements outside London planned for February. [69842]
Mr. Prescott:
It is not the practice to give details of my forthcoming engagements.
8 Feb 1999 : Column: 12
Mr. Gareth Thomas:
To ask the President of the Council what steps she proposes to take to ensure that announcements of Government policy on matters which will be devolved take into account the roles of the National Assembly for Wales and the Scottish Parliament. [68614]
Mrs. Beckett:
Ministers are aware of the areas within their responsibility which will be devolved to the Scottish Parliament and the National Assembly for Wales under the provisions of the Scotland Act 1998 and the Government of Wales Act 1998. Ministers are taking this into account in preparing and making announcements of Government policy.
Mr. Winnick:
To ask the President of the Council what was the total number of oral questions tabled to all departments, excluding the Scottish and Welsh Offices but including the Prime Minister in the last session; and what percentage were (a) on the Order of Business on the day in question and (b) actually answered orally. [69575]
Mrs. Beckett:
26,625 oral questions were put down in the last session to all departments excluding the Scottish and Welsh Offices, but including the Prime Minister.
7,437 or 27.9 per cent. were on the order of Business on the day in question and 3,149 or 11.8 per cent. were actually answered orally.
Mr. Salmond:
To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee what is the expected final cost of Portcullis House; when it is due to be completed; what is the cost of (a) furniture, (b) catering facilities, (c) exterior decoration and (d) interior decoration; how many (i) hon. Members, (ii) Parliamentary staff and (iii) ancillary staff will be accommodated in the new building; and if he will make a statement. [69103]
Sir Sydney Chapman:
As previously reported, the forecast outturn cost of the project is £250m. In addition to the capital costs, this figure includes furniture and fittings, professional and construction management fees and VAT. In accordance with the brief agreed by the House in 1992, the building will provide accommodation for 205 hon. Members and at least as many Members' staff. The precise number will depend on individual hon. Members' working arrangements. At this stage figures for the number of ancillary staff, who will be mainly from the Serjeant at Arms and Refreshment Departments, are not available. The select committee and conference rooms will also be heavily used.
Much of the furniture has yet to be purchased but the budget figures total £3.7m. These figures include the furnishing of the select committee and conference rooms and other communal areas including the refreshment and library facilities as well as the offices of hon. Members and their staff. The cost of the catering equipment, furniture and fittings is £2.4m. All the surfaces, both internal and external, are self-finished so there are no
8 Feb 1999 : Column: 13
costs that could be attributed to decoration. The building is due to be occupied early in 2001. Work remains on schedule.
Miss McIntosh:
To ask the President of the Council, pursuant to her oral statement of 1 February 1998, Official Report, column 593, concerning the lack of insurance cover for travel on 1 January 2000, if she will list the relevant authorities examining the issue in each sector. [69573]
Mrs. Beckett:
It is the responsibility of the transport industry to ensure that their transport services can be delivered without increased risk to the public over the Millennium. However, relevant public authorities are taking steps to ensure that this work is done. These include the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, the Civil Aviation Authority, Maritime and Coastguard Agency, the Rail Regulator, Railtrack, the Health & Safety Commission and the Highways Agency. These organisations are also working with relevant international organisations, including the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the International Maritime Organisation to look at the safety of international travel.
The Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions and relevant regulators are also facilitating a programme of independent assessment of preparedness across the UK transport sector as part of a programme of work that is being led by Action 2000 through the National Infrastructure Forum. The first results from this work should be published in the Spring.
8 Feb 1999 : Column: 14
With respect to the availability of travel insurance over the Century date change, I understand that insurance cover remains available for both travel companies and transport companies, as well as for individual members of the public over the Millennium, although any policies may be subject to a number of specific Year 2000 related exclusions.
Mr. Stinchcombe:
To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department what was the cost to the Legal Aid Fund of paying Civil Court fees in (a) county court proceedings and (b) High Court proceedings in each of the last five years. [69227]
Mr. Hoon:
Information on the amount paid for Civil Court fees is not available, as they are claimed as disbursements and the Legal Aid Board does not record these fees as a separate amount.
Mr. Hoyle:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list by county the number of REME officers and regulars recruited in each of the last three years [69328]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
The information shown in the table reflects the numbers of REME officers and soldiers recruited through the various Army and Armed Forces Careers Offices in each county, in each of the last three years; it does not necessarily reflect individual's areas of origin.
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Mr. Hoyle:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if HQ 101 Battalion REME was listed for closure in the first round of recommendations for the future of the Territorial Army proposed by HQ Land Command. [69346]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 17 December 1998, Official Report, column 657.
Mr. Hoyle:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many REME regulars were recruited in the North West; how many REME recruits came from North Wales during each of the last five years; and how many of these were recruited via the cadets. [69329]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
The information shown in the table reflects the numbers of REME soldiers recruited through Army and Armed Forces Careers Offices in the areas shown. It does not necessarily reflect individuals' areas of origin. The numbers shown as Ex-Cadet reflect those who are known to be former cadets and are included in the main total.
| North West | North Wales | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Numbers | Ex-cadet | Numbers | Ex-cadet |
| 1994 | 71 | 15 | 3 | 2 |
| 1995 | 115 | 21 | 28 | 8 |
| 1996 | 151 | 33 | 22 | 7 |
| 1997 | 109 | 15 | 10 | 2 |
| 1998 | 125 | 12 | 14 | 3 |
The regions used are those defined in the publication "Regional Trends" published by the Office for National Statistics.
8 Feb 1999 : Column: 16
Mr. Hoyle:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the cost to his Department of empty houses vacated by (a) officers and (b) other ranks moving from Chorley 101 REME to Queensferry. [69332]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
Vacancies created by the departure of families moving with 101 Bn REME from the Preston area to North Wales are expected to be filled by families attached to other Army units in the Preston area. While there may, therefore, be some short term vacancies associated with this changeover, no costs in terms of long term voids are anticipated at this time.
Mr. Hoyle:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date TAVRA North West was consulted about the decision to transfer HQ 101 Battalion REME to Queensferry. [69317]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
The North West Territorial and Auxiliary Volunteer Reserve Association were consulted on this proposal on 12 October, at a meeting held at Headquarters Land.
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