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LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT
House Repossessions (Hampshire)
Mr. Oaten: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many house repossessions there were in (a) England, (b) Hampshire and (c) each local authority area in Hampshire, for each year from 1979 to date. [116641]
Jane Kennedy:
The information is not available in the form requested. However, the table shows the number of warrants of possession executed. The information is available from 1990 onwards and can be provided only on the basis of individual county courts and not by individual local authority.
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| County court | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aldershot and Farnham | 251 | 416 | 428 | 316 | 555 | 347 | 211 | 183 | 247 | 166 |
| Andover | 27 | 65 | 61 | 49 | 37 | 52 | 80 | 44 | (4)-- | (4)-- |
| Basingstoke | 136 | 237 | 193 | 219 | 70 | 117 | 98 | 115 | 181 | 205 |
| Portsmouth | 622 | 736 | 560 | 520 | 454 | 466 | 488 | 490 | 842 | 717 |
| Southampton | 122 | 494 | 545 | 421 | 401 | 347 | 303 | 314 | 234 | 327 |
| Winchester | 32 | 75 | 70 | 36 | 68 | 52 | 56 | 29 | 37 | 35 |
| Hampshire | 1,190 | 2,023 | 1,857 | 1,561 | 1,585 | 1,381 | 1,236 | 1,175 | 1,541 | 1,450 |
| England and Wales | 41,779 | 61,139 | 62,439 | 51,333 | 49,222 | 51,096 | 48,587 | 49,865 | 59,701 | 71,256 |
(4) Closed
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Public Trust Office
Mr. Colman: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when he will announce future arrangements for the Public Trust Office. [116123]
Jane Kennedy: I refer my hon. Friend to the written answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Bethnal Green and Bow (Ms King) on 8 February 2000, Official Report, column 132W.
DEFENCE
Rover Class Tankers
Mr. DuncanSmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to replace the Royal Fleet Auxiliary's Rover class tankers. [116451]
Dr. Moonie [holding answer 27 March 2000]: We are currently considering options on how best to provide the Replenishment At Sea capability currently provided by the Royal Fleet Auxiliary's Rover class tankers, which are due to leave service in 2007.
Foden Thompson Carmichael MWD
Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to fit (a) roll bars or (b) other anti-crash features to the Foden Thompson Carmichael MWD; and if he will make a statement. [116030]
Dr. Moonie: The cab of the Foden Thompson Carmichael MWD meets accepted European Safety Standards (ECE 29) set for roof crush, rear crush and front impact. There is no evidence to suggest that it is an unstable vehicle and there are no plans to fit roll bars to it. As I indicated in my earlier response on 7 March 2000, Official Report, column 648W, a modification programme to bring all MK1 vehicles up to full compliance with the Construction and Use Regulations has begun and will include the fitting of an anti-lock braking system (ABS). No other anti-crash features are planned and the vehicle is considered safe in all regards.
Mr. Swayne:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 7 March 2000, Official Report, column 649W, what assessment his Department
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has made of evidence sworn by 24684328 Lance Corporal Seers RLC at Kupres, Bosnia-Herzogovina on 14 January 1998 in respect of the Foden Thompson Carmichael MWD braking system. [116031]
Dr. Moonie:
The evidence referred to was given to a Board of Inquiry which investigated a fatal road traffic accident in Bosnia in July 1997. In respect of all the evidence considered by the Inquiry on the braking system fitted to the Foden Thompson Carmichael MWD, recommendations were made to review the driver training procedures for the vehicle, and to introduce an additional check in regard to the pawl lever on the Jacob's Brake--the engine brake system which is complementary to the service braking system. The recommendations have been acted upon.
Mr. Swayne:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 7 March 2000, Official Report, column 649W, for what reason the two Foden Thompson Carmichael MWD vehicles were returned to BVD Ashchurch for repair by 6 Transport Squadron during Operation Lodestar in August 1996. [116032]
Dr. Moonie:
Departmental records show that, in total, three Foden Thompson Carmichael MWD vehicles were returned to the UK for repair in 1996. All three vehicles were returned between January and July 1996 for repair following road traffic accidents while operating in Bosnia. It has not been possible to identify any Foden Thompson Carmichael MWD vehicles being returned to the Base Vehicle Depot (BVD) Ashchurch in August 1996.
Staff Age Profiles
Dr. Cable: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will state (a) the number and percentage of staff in his Department who are over the age of (i) 45 years and (ii) 55 years and (b) the average age of his staff. [115409]
Mr. Morley:
At the end of 1999 the numbers and percentage of staff aged over 45 years and 55 years and the average age of staff in my Department and its Agencies was as follows:
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| Age 45+ | Age 55+ | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department/Agency | Number | Percentage | Number | Percentage | Average age |
| Core--MAFF | 2,501 | 36 | 772 | 11 | 39 |
| Pesticides Safety Directorate | 35 | 16 | 8 | 4 | 37 |
| Veterinary Medicines Directorate | 46 | 38 | 19 | 16 | 42 |
| Veterinary Laboratories Agency | 416 | 36 | 143 | 13 | 40 |
| Farming and Rural Conservation Agency | 209 | 32 | 48 | 7 | 38 |
| Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science | 196 | 38 | 69 | 14 | 40 |
| Meat Hygiene Service | 509 | 34 | 165 | 11 | 41 |
| Central Science Laboratory | 152 | 26 | 31 | 5 | 36 |
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Fisheries (Minimum Landing Sizes)
Mr. Moss:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received from fishing organisations regarding the impact of the changes to minimum landing sizes for various species of fish; and what assessment he has made of the effect on fish stocks. [116093]
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Mr. Morley:
Under the revised EU Technical Conservation Regulation which came into effect on 1 January this year, Minimum Landing Sizes for brill, dab, witch, flounder, turbot and lemon sole were ended. Some fishermen's organisations have asked for their restoration. We are currently considering this with the industry in the UK Fisheries Conservation Group.
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I have made clear that, if the industry so wishes, I would be prepared to reinstate some or all of these Minimum Landing Sizes on a national basis and seek to persuade the EU to restore them.
It is too early to assess the impact of the changes in the EU rules.
Mr. Gill:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received concerning the potential impact of the Waste Incineration Directive upon farmers; and if he will make a statement. [116248]
Mr. Morley:
I have received representations about the implications for farmers of this Directive, for which the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions has lead responsibility, from the National Farmers Union, the Countryside Alliance and the National Pig Association.
Mr. Moss:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what harbour grants were granted for each of the last five years broken down by amount and location; when harbour grants were discontinued; and how many schemes were pending at that juncture. [116108]
Mr. Morley:
The table shows awards of national harbour grant made in England over the last five financial years.
(5) Actual payments were not necessarily made in the same year as the award
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