House of Commons Hansard Debates for 12 Dec 1989

Written Answers to Questions

Tuesday 12 December 1989

THE ARTS

New Museums

Mr. Baldry : To ask the Minister for the Arts how many new museums have been opened in the last three years.

Mr. Luce : The Museums Association database estimated in 1988 that the number of museums and galleries in the United Kingdom was estimated to have risen to some 2,400 from approximately 1,750 in 1984.

I understand that the Museum and Galleries Commission estimates that the number has now risen to approximately 2,500.

National Television Archive

Dr. Kim Howells : To ask the Minister for the Arts if he intends to set up a national television archive ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Luce : The British Film Institute already operates an extensive film and television archive and I hope that it will be possible for them to extend this in co-operation with the television industry.

CIVIL SERVICE

Agencies

Mr. Andrew Mitchell : To ask the Minister for the Civil Service what further progress has been made in the establishment of agencies ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Luce : Since I last reported to the House, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment has announced, on 1 December at column 461, his intention that the Employment Service should be launched as an executive agency in April 1990.

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Mr. Baldry : To ask the Minister for the Civil Service what proportion of the Civil Service is covered by both existing and proposed agencies.

Mr. Luce : Staff in the 10 executive agencies established so far under the Next Steps initiative taken together with those in the functions announced to date as candidates for agency status, represent about one third of the Civil Service.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Health and Social Services (Appointments)

The Rev. Martin Smyth : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will list all area board and district manager and any deputy posts which have been recruited in the last four years, together with the salaries and length of contract ;

(2) if he will list all director, assistant director and deputy posts which have been recruited or advertised in the last four years by health and social services boards, together with the length of contracts offered and the salaries ;

(3) what information he has about further plans by health and social services boards to recruit management posts ; what was the total cost of all posts recruited in the last four years and any posts currently being advertised ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Peter Bottomley : The appointment of general managers and senior managers at board and unit of management level is a matter for boards to decide in accordance with determinations and guidance issued by the Department of Health and Social Services. This guidance is available in the Library.

The information requested in respect of general manager and senior manager posts including the present basic salaries and length of contracts is set out in the tables below.

The boards will be proceeding to fill other senior manager posts at board headquarters and units of management.

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Table 2                                                                         

General manager-senior manager posts for which boards are in the process of     

recruiting                                                                      

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

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Table 2                                                                         

General manager-senior manager posts for which boards are in the process of     

recruiting                                                                      

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

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ENERGY

Mersey Barrage

Mr. Alton : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what representations he has received about the Mersey barrage ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Peter Morrison : As the hon. Member knows from my discussions with him, an application for inclusion in the initial tranche of the non- fossil fuel obligation has been made by the Mersey Barrage Company. This application is being considered and discussions are taking place with the company.

The Mersey barrage project can be considered for inclusion in the non- fossil fuel obligation only if agreement is reached between area boards and the company on a suitable contract and the project is commercially viable.

Coal

Mr. Riddick : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will provide details of any agreements for British Coal to supply coal to National Power and Powergen in future years.

Mr. Michael Spicer : My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy indicated the main terms of the coal supply contracts recently agreed between British Coal and National Power and PowerGen in the Second Reading debate on the Coal Industry Bill on 4 December. The details, however, are a commercial matter for the parties concerned.

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Nuclear Power

Mr. Paice : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what plans he has to re-evaluate the role of nuclear power in the context of environmental damage from fossil fuels.

Mr. Michael Spicer : The Government recognise the contribution that nuclear power can make towards minimising the problems of the greenhouse effect and acid rain caused by the burning of fossil fuels. My hon. Friend will recall the statement made to the House by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy on 9 November when he said that

"the Government will wish to review the prospects for nuclear power as the Sizewell project nears completion in 1994".

The environmental advantages of nuclear power will be taken fully into account in this review.

Electricite de France

Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what subjects he intends to raise when he next meets the head of Electricite de France.

Mr. Michael Spicer : My right hon. Friend and I have no plans to meet the head of Electricite de France.

Reactor Programmes (Costs)

Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many meetings have been held between his Department and (a) the Central Electricity Generating Board, (b) the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority and (c) British Nuclear Fuels plc, on the issues of decommissioning costs, reprocessing costs and nuclear

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waste management costs for (i) the Magnox reactor programme and (ii) the advanced gas cooled reactor programme in the last 12 months ; and what reports have been received by his Department from these organisations on these subjects over the past year.

Mr. Michael Spicer : My Department has had many meetings with the CEGB, BNFL and UKAEA in the past year at which the topics of decommissioning, reprocessing and nuclear waste management were discussed. My Department has received a report from the UKAEA reviewing the CEGB's decommissioning cost estimates for their Magnox and AGR nuclear power stations.

CEGB Chairman

Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) how many meetings he has had with the chairman of the Central Electricity Generating Board since 1 September ; how many telephone conversations he has had with the Central Electricity Generating Board chairman over the same time span ; and what issues were discussed in each communication ;

(2) what correspondence he has had with the chairman of the Central Electricity Generating Board since 25 July ; what issues were addressed ; and if he will place copies of the correspondence in the Library.

Mr. Michael Spicer : My right hon. Friend and I are in regular contact with the chairman of the Central Electricity Generating Board about matters of mutual interest. These communications are confidential.

Nuclear Reactors (Czechoslovakia)

Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he has any plans to offer United Kingdom designed nuclear reactors to Czechoslovakia, under the enabling arrangements of articles III and IV of the nuclear non- proliferation treaty, in support of Czechoslovakia's industrial and environmental plan to reduce dependence on fossil fuel-generated electricity.

Mr. Michael Spicer : My right hon. Friend and I have no such plans.

Spent Nuclear Fuel (Sellafield)

Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make it his policy to deposit with the new European Environmental Agency full details of all contracts held by British Nuclear Fuels with foreign bodies for the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel at Sellafield and to include details of all categories of radioactive waste arising.

Mr. Michael Spicer : It will be for the agency to request whatever information or analysis it requires to carry out the work programme approved by its management board in due course.

British Nuclear Fuels Ltd.

Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will set out his responsibilities in regard to the operation of the British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. Sellafield plant.

Mr. Michael Spicer : Responsibility for the operation of the Sellafield site rests with British Nuclear Fuels plc.

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Uranium

Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what was the total of processed uranium exported by the United Kingdom in each year since 1973-74 (a) in tonnes and (b) in value at constant prices ; and what was the total of uranium imported by the United Kingdom in each year since 1973-74 : (a) in tonnes and (b) in value at constant prices.

Mr. Michael Spicer : Since 1979, uranium ore concentrate containing over 10,000 tonnes of uranium, has been imported for use in the United Kingdom civil programme. During the same period, uranium ore concentrate containing over 30,000 tonnes of uranium, has been processed by British Nuclear Fuels plc on behalf of overseas customers for subsequent export. Annual figures could be given only at disproportionate cost. The value of this material is commercially confidential. All such uranium is subject to Euratom safeguards and to the terms of the United Kingdom-Euratom- International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards agreement.

Murton Colliery

Mr. Cummings : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement concerning the future use of the 40-acre spoil tip at Murton colliery.

Mr. Michael Spicer : The use of land belonging to British Coal is a matter for its management to determine. I have asked the chairman to write to the hon. Member.

Collieries (Work Hours)

Mr. Cummings : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what are the average hours worked by employees underground, and surface, at Murton, Dawdon, Easington and Vane Tempest collieries week by week in the current financial year.

Mr. Michael Spicer : This is a matter for British Coal. I have asked the chairman to write to the hon. Member.

Privately-owned Mines

Mr. Ronnie Campbell : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many men are employed underground in privately-owned mines in the north- east.

Mr. Michael Spicer : This is a matter for British Coal. I have asked the chairman of British Coal, the licensing authority for privately-owned mines, to write to the hon. Member.

Nuclear Electric plc

Mr. Eadie : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what will be the salaries of (a) the chairman and chief executive, (b) the deputy chairman with special responsibilities for production, (c) the director for corporate affairs and personnel, (d) the director of construction and future programmes, and (e) non-executive directors of the new company Nuclear Electric plc.

Mr. Michael Spicer : The designate board of Nuclear Electric have been appointed at the following salaries :

(i) The chairman is paid £125,000 per annum.

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(ii) Full time members of the board are paid in the range £60, 000-70,000 per annum.

Non-executive members of the Board have not yet been appointed.

Nuclear Power (Subsidies)

Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what discussions have recently taken place between officials from his Department and the European Commission on the implications of his plans to subsidise nuclear electricity in regard to European Community rules on energy marketing and competition policy.

Mr. Michael Spicer : A number of meetings have taken place with the Commission in recent months on a range of issues to do with electricity privatisation.

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Energy Conservation

Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will give for each region and for the United Kingdom as a whole, for every quarter and every full year since neighbourhood energy action schemes started, the number of (a) neighbourhood energy action schemes, (b) draught proofing jobs completed under national energy schemes, (c) loft insulation jobs completed under national energy schemes and (d) trainees under national energy schemes.

Mr. Wakeham : Figures in the detail sought by the hon. Member for neighbourhood energy action schemes in the United Kingdom are not available for the period requested. The following table gives the aggregated data that is available in respect of the calendar years to the end of 1988 :

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