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Written Answers to Questions
Monday 10th June 1991
ENVIRONMENT
Public Inquiries
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the criteria for appointing public inquiry inspectors ; and on what basis public inquiry inspectors can be sacked.
Mr. Yeo : Before appointing an inspector to hold a public inquiry, the Department considers what issues the case is likely to raise and then selects an inspector with the appropriate expertise and experience.
Salaried inspectors are subject to the same disciplinary code as any other civil servant. Fee paid inspectors are subject to the rules set out in their contracts or terms of engagement. Public inquiries concerned with trunk road orders are conducted by independent individuals, not civil servants, and they are nominated specifically for each inquiry by the Lord Chancellor.
Population Statistics
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will publish a table showing nationally, regionally and for each district, the total number of households, the number drawing household benefit, the number paying a reduced community charge by bands of reduced charge, and the number on national assistance.
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Mr. Key : Information on households at district level is contained in table 39 of the county report to the 1981 census, copies of which are in the Library. Similar analyses from the 1991 census will become available during 1992. Current estimates of the number of households for England and the English regions were given in the reply to the hon. Member's earlier question on 20 May 1991 at columns 327-28. Estimates of the number of households in receipt of housing benefit are :
Estimated number of households claiming housing benefit
Standard region |Thousands
---------------------------------------------------------
Northern |295.1
Yorkshire and Humberside |381.5
East Anglia |239.9
East Midlands |110.8
Greater London |533.6
South-East (ex. London) |499.3
South-West |252.2
West Midlands |366.3
North-West |508.2
|-------
England Total |3,186.9
The information relates to November 1990 and is based on quarterly caseloads. A table containing this information for districts, where available, has been placed in the Library.
It is not possible to provide the information requested on the numbers who will be paying a reduced community charge at either regional or district level. For estimates at a national level I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 17 April 1991 to the hon. Member for Birkenhead (Mr. Field) at columns 184-85.
National assistance was replaced by supplementary benefit in 1966 which was itself replaced by income support in 1988. Information on income support is only available for the former social security regions. Quarterly details as at February 1991 are as follows :
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Region |Enterprise zone |Designation date
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northern |Tyneside |25 August 1981
|Hartlepool |23 October 1981
|Middlesborough |8 November 1983
|Sunderland |27 April 1990
Yorkshire and Humberside |Wakefield |31 July 1981 and
|23 September 1983
|Rotherham |16 August 1983
|Scunthorpe |23 September 1983
|Glandford |14 April 1985
North West |Salford/Trafford |12 August 1981
|Speke (Liverpool)|25 August 1981
|Workington |4 October 1983
|N.E. Lancashire |7 December 1983
West Midlands |Dudley |10 July 1981 and
|3 October 1994
|Telford |13 January 1994
East Midlands |Corby |22 June 1981
|Wellingborough |26 July 1983
South West |North West Kent |31 October 1983
|and 10 October
|1986
Urban Development Corporations
Ms. Primarolo : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the Government will be allocating funds over and above those already earmarked for the urban development corporations or promised in grant aid to fund the full cost of completion of projects left unfinished on the termination of the urban development corporations' fixed lifetime.
Mr. Key : I expect satisfactory arrangements to be made to deal with projects which are under way when a corporation is wound up. These arrangements will be determined by the circumstances of the particular case.
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Homelessness
Mr. Fearn : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidance he gives to local authorities on the definition of intentionally homeless.
Mr. Yeo : Section 71 of the Housing Act 1985 provides for the Secretary of State to issue guidance to local authorities on how to apply the homelessness legislation. Local authorities must have regard to this guidance when dealing with homeless applicants. A revised code of guidance- -third edition--is currently in preparation, following extensive consultation, and will be issued shortly. The code contains advice on how local authorities should assess whether an applicant has become homeless
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intentionally, although this decision will be a matter for the authority's own discretion on the facts of each individual case.Mr. Fearn : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will consider introducing legislation to place a duty on local authorities to provide accommodation for all 16 to 18-year-olds who are homeless.
Mr. Yeo : The Government's 1989 homelessness review concluded that the homelessness legislation provided an adequate safety net to those in greatest need who were homeless through no fault of their own. The homelessness code of guidance contains advice on how local authorities should assess applications from young people who apply as homeless, although this will be a matter for the local authority's discretion on the facts of each individual case.
Mr. Fearn : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the local authorities in England and Wales which provide rented accommodation for single, homeless people.
Mr. Yeo : Local authorities that retain housing for rent provide accommodation for homeless households when the need arises. However the information available to my Department does not separately identify accommodation let to single people.
For information about Wales I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.
Transmitter, Northumberland
Mr. Morley : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he intends to call in the proposals for the erection of a Loran C transmitter near Amble, Northumberland by Trinity House ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Yeo : My right hon. Friend cannot call in a development proposal before a planning application has been submitted. I understand that Trinity House is consulting Alnwick district council and other interested parties with a view to exercising permitted development rights under the Town and Country Planning General Development Order 1988 to establish a transmitter at Togston to service the proposed north-west European Loran C system. Exercise of these rights is dependent upon the conclusion of an international agreement on the UK joining the system.
Housing Starts
Mr. Fearn : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are his Department's working forecasts for the number of (a) local authority new starts and (b) housing association new starts for each of the next five years.
Mr. Yeo : I refer the hon. Member to the Department's annual report- -(Cm 1508)--chapter 7, paragraphs 7.30 to 7.47 in particular.
Institute of Horticulture
Mr. McMaster: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what representations he has received from the Institute of Horticulture regarding garden festivals ; and if he will make a statement ;
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(2) when he next proposes to discuss the development of garden festivals with the Institute of Horticulture ; and if he will make a statement ;(3) when he next proposes to meet the Institute of Horticulture ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Key : I have agreed to meet the Institute of Horticulture to discuss the future of garden festivals, following a recent letter from the president arguing that further festivals be staged.
Industrial Waste
Ms. Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he has taken to promote the implementation of policies to ensure that safe and effective arrangements are made for the disposal of industrial waste in the country of origin ; what steps he has taken to encourage the adoption of this policy by other countries ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Baldry : The United Kingdom has taken a leading part in persuading the international community to accept the principle that industrial and other wastes should be disposed of at environmentally sound facilities in the country of production. The OECD decision-recommendation on the reduction of transfrontier movements of wastes of 31 January 1991 requires member countries to dispose of their wastes in an environmentally satisfactory fashion as far as possible in their own territory. EC directive 91/156 of 18 March 1991 requires member states to dispose of waste to a high level of environmental protection and to establish an adequate network of disposal facilities to enable the Community as a whole to become self-sufficient in waste disposal and member states to move towards that aim individually. The United Kingdom has been advocating the importance of self-sufficiency during the current negotiations on the draft regulation on shipments of waste within, into and out of the European Community which would enable member states to ratify the Basel convention on the control of transboundary movements of hazardous wastes.
Angling
Mr. Meale : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the Government intend to introduce legislation to impose the same or similar restrictions on the use of lead shot as imposed on the use of lead weights in angling.
Mr. Baldry : The Government are aware of the potential effects of lead shot on the environment. We have asked the Nature Conservancy Council for England to assess the extent of any danger to wildlife and its habitat, and to monitor the outcome of current research into possible alternatives to lead shot. When we have evaluated all this evidence, we will be able to decide whether voluntary restriction or legislation is more appropriate.
Enterprise Zones
Mr. Meacher : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the enterprise zone designated areas by standard region in England, giving the date of designation and expiry.
Mr. Portillo : The table supplies this information.
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South East North West Kent 31 October 1983 and 10 October 1986 London Isle of Dogs 26 April 1982Note : Each zone has a 10 year life
National Parks
Mr. Knox : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what were the percentages of planning decisions made in eight weeks by each of the district councils in Staffordshire and in the Peak District national park in the 12 most recent three-month periods for which figures are available.
Mr. Yeo : The information requested is as follows :
Percentage of planning decisions made within 8 weeks in
Staffordshire, by planning authority
Per cent.
Quarter of decision
1988
Local authority |1st |2nd |3rd |4th
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cannock Chase |74 |83 |82 |80
East Staffordshire |87 |90 |82 |74
Lichfield |53 |73 |66 |59
Newcastle Under
Lyme |90 |91 |93 |85
South Staffordshire |60 |54 |48 |35
Stafford |81 |85 |78 |39
Staffordshire
Moorlands |62 |63 |55 |48
Stoke on Trent |66 |73 |70 |69
Tamworth |81 |78 |77 |69
Peak National Park<1> |68 |55 |49 |49
<1> This includes figures for areas outside Staffordshire.
Percentage of planning decisions made within 8 weeks
in Staffordshire, by planning authority
Per cent.
Quarter of decision
1989
Local authority |1st |2nd |3rd |4th
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cannock Chase |75 |80 |60 |72
East Staffordshire |70 |75 |68 |70
Lichfield |57 |63 |57 |59
Newcastle Under Lyme 90 86 75 83
South Staffordshire |40 |41 |37 |51
Stafford |22 |52 |71 |52
Staffordshire Moorlands 40 29 10 32
Stoke on Trent |63 |63 |22 |47
Tamworth |68 |56 |68 |67
Peak National Park<1> |51 |54 |38 |42
<1>This includes figures for areas outside Staffordshire.
Percentage of planning decisions made
within eight weeks in
Staffordshire, by planning authority
Per cent.
Local authority Quarter of decision
1990
|1st|2nd|3rd|4th
------------------------------------------
Cannock Chase |66 |65 |71 |71
East Staffordshire |68 |59 |62 |76
Lichfield |57 |59 |61 |59
Newcastle Under
Lyme |85 |87 |83 |85
South Staffordshire |49 |70 |62 |64
Stafford |23 |19 |31 |22
Staffordshire
Moorlands |27 |35 |38 |39
Stoke on Trent |40 |56 |48 |47
Tamworth |68 |66 |73 |61
Peak National Park<1> |28 |20 |28 |35
<1> This includes figures for areas
outside Staffordshire.
Cheshire County Council
Mr. Nicholas Winterton : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will ask the Audit Commission to investigate the decision by Cheshire county council to replace existing road signs marking the county boundary ;
(2) if he will ask the Audit Commission to investigate the decision by Cheshire county council to allocate £60,000 to a public relations campaign to promote its image as the local authority.
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Mr. Key : No. These are matters for the auditor who must undertake his duties in accordance with the Audit Commission's code of audit practice. The code requires the auditor to satisfy himself that the body whose accounts are being audited has made proper arrangements for securing economy, efficiency and effectiveness in its use of resources.Mr. Nicholas Winterton : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from the residents of Cheshire about the expenditure by Cheshire county council on public relations campaigns.
Mr. Key : We have received no recent representations from residents of Cheshire concerning expenditure by Cheshire county council on public relations campaigns.
Cheshire Road Signs
Mr. Nicholas Winterton : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will intervene to prevent Cheshire county council from replacing all existing road signs indicating the county boundary in the light of the review of local government structure ; (2) if he will meet the chief executive of Cheshire county council to discuss the decision of the county council to replace the existing road signs marking the county boundary.
Mr. Key : Local spending decisions are a matter to be determined by Cheshire county council in the light of its knowledge of local circumstances and the relevant powers. Subject to audit, the council will in this, as in all matters, be accountable to Cheshire electors for its decisions.
Local Government Review
Mr. Nicholas Winterton : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidance he has issued to local authorities on public relations campaigns in the run-up to the review of local government structure.
Mr. Key : The joint circular of 15 August 1988 from the Department of the Environment, the Scottish Development Department and the Welsh Office contains the code of recommended practice of local authority publicity to which, by statute, local authorities must have regard.
Special Grants Scheme
Mr. Doran : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the organisations that received grants from the Department of the Environment's special grants scheme ; and at what level the grants were made for 1989-90 and 1990-91.
Mr. Key : In 1989-90 a total of £1.942 million was expended from my Department's special grants programme to support 85 projects in England, which increased in 1990-91 to £2.235 million to 94 projects. I am placing a list of organisations receiving grant for both years in the Library of the House. Separate programmes are administered in Scotland and Wales by the Scottish Office Environment Department and the Welsh Office respectively.
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Waste Incineration
Mr. Kirkwood : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the locations of any high-volume waste incinerators which have received planning permission in the United Kingdom over the last two years ; and what conditions were imposed, if any, in each case.
Mr. Baldry : Whether to grant planning permission for a high volume waste incinerator is a function of local planning authorities. We do not collect records of permissions for such developments, or of conditions attached to such permissions.
Mr. Kirkwood : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list current United Kingdom regulations in force or pending which restrict or control the erection of high-volume waste incinerators in the vicinity of food storage and processing premises.
Mr. Baldry : The erection of a high-volume waste incinerator would require planning permission under the Town and Country Planning Acts. Before they can operate, new incinerators must also be authorised under part I of the Environmental Protection Act either by the local authority or Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution, depending on the volume of the incinerator.
Water Tower, Southwold
Mr. David Porter : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement outlining the reasons for the listing of the water tower at Southwold in Suffolk.
Sir George Young : The old water tower was listed on 16 May on the basis of clear advice from English Heritage, the Secretary of State's statutory professional advisers, that it is a building of special architectural or historic interest. English Heritage advised that the tower, which was built in 1886, is a very rare example of a wind-powered water tower.
Mr. David Porter : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement outlining the procedures that were followed in the listing of the old water tower at Southwold in Suffolk ; and if he will give the names of the inspector and of those who were consulted.
Sir George Young : This building was drawn to the Department's attention in April and, in accordance with the provisions of section 1 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, English Heritage's advice was sought on whether it was a building of special architectural or historic interest. No other body was consulted in this particular case. The inspector who assessed the building was an historic buildings inspector from English Heritage, but the final decision was taken by the Secretary of State. It is not our normal practice to consult more widely on proposals for listing, or to give the names of the inspectors who advise the Secretary of State.
Heveningham Hall
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will place in the Library a copy of the covenants accepted by ID Investment Development AG, and the deed of covenant by Mr. Al Ghazzi, guaranteeing the company's performance in relation to Heveningham hall.
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Sir George Young : The broad effect of the covenants which were entered into at the time of the sale has been explained on more than one occasion. I do not think that there is anything in the present situation which would justify breaching normal considerations of confidentiality as to the detailed terms of the conveyance.Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment further to his answer of 4 June, Official Report, column 163, who is re- examining Dame Sylvia Crowe's scheme and in the light of what specific research.
Sir George Young : The re-examination is being carried out by the bodies mentioned in my previous answer in the context of their formulation of a replanting programme ; English Heritage is also being consulted. I was referring to general advances in our understanding of historic landscapes over recent years rather than to specific research.
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what monitoring he has undertaken of (a) 18th century restoration and (b) 20th century restoration of Heveningham hall.
Sir George Young : Monitoring of works carried out under listed building consent is in the first instance a matter for the local planning authority. In view of the importance of the building, English Heritage has also kept closely in touch with the progress of the repair and restoration work.
Council House Sales
Mr. Fearn : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to amend part VI of the Local Government and Housing Act to release capital receipts from the sale of council houses to be invested in the provision of new housing.
Mr. Yeo : Local authorities are required to set aside part of their capital receipts that have accrued from the sale of assets to meet outstanding loan debt and other liabilities. The remainder they may spend in new capital investment. The balance between debt redemption and new investment is kept under review.
Local Authority Housing
Mr. Fearn : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to place a duty on local authorities to help provide for another neighbouring local authority with greater housing needs.
Council Housing, London
Mr. Alex Carlile : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of council housing in London is currently not inhabited by council tenants ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Yeo [holding answer 7 May 1991] : From latest available information reported on HIP1 returns it is estimated that 2.9 per cent. of stock owned by London boroughs was vacant at 1 April 1990. A further 0.7 per cent. was recorded as in unlicensed occupation. The Government have taken steps to ensure that local authorities improve the utilisation and management of
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their stock. There is certainly considerable scope for improvement on the above figures, particularly among inner London boroughs. Revised housing revenue account subsidy arrangements now incorporate financial incentives for authorities to minimise the proportion of voids in their stock. The publication of performance indicators from this year onwards will highlight standards of housing management, including control of stock, and increase accountability to tenants. London boroughs have received additional allocations of £86 million over the past two years to repair empty local authority homes through the homelessness initiative. It is estimated that more than 5,000 will be brought back into use as a result.Local Authority Service Provision
Mr. Rowe : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment in what areas of local authority service provision for which he is responsible payments are required to be made to individuals who are not employees (a) in the form of a grant or one-off payment and (b) on receipt of paid invoices.
Mr. Key [holding answer 6 June 1991] : I will write to my hon. Friend.
Holmewood Estate (Finance)
Mr. Cryer : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the funding sources and amounts already allocated for improvements to Holmewood estate in Bradford.
Mr. Yeo [holding answer 7 June 1991] : The Department has to date made the following allocations for improvements to the Holmewood estate :
|£
-----------------------------------------------------
Estate Action Programme |4,958,600
Urban Programme |202,000
City Action Team Special Funding |68,670
Kew Gardens
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total daily admission cost for an unemployed man, his partner and two children over the age of five years to enter Kew gardens for each year since 1985 ; what account has been taken of the level of unemployment benefit in setting those charges ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Curry : I have been asked to reply.
The standard daily admission costs for two adults and two children over five years of age entering Kew gardens for each year since 1985 have been, and are, as follows :
|Admission
|£
-------------------------------------------
1985 |0.50
1986 |0.50
1987 |1.00
1988 |1.00
1989 |3.00
January-October 1990 |3.00
November-December 1990 |8.00
1991 |8.00
The current standard single adult entry charge is £3, but senior citizens and students can enter at half price and children under 15 for £1. No special provision has been made for visitors who are unemployed.
SOCIAL SECURITY
Mobility Allowance
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he has issued any guidelines during the past 12 months to the mobility allowance units with regard to the length of time for which mobility allowance is awarded ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Scott : An award of mobility allowance is made by the independent adjudicating authorities for as long a period as it is considered that the conditions of entitlement will be met. I understand that no guidance on this point, other than that issued in connection with the changes relating to people without legs, has been issued to staff during the past 12 months.
Mr. Rooker : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will arrange to provide a simple medical report form for applicants for mobility allowance who are suffering from sickle cell disease in a similar style to form MY38A used for applicants who suffer from haemophilia.
Mr. Scott : Arrangements to introduce a special medical report form for people with sickle cell disease claiming mobility allowance are already in hand. Benefits Agency staff are liaising with the Birmingham sickle cell and thalassaemia centre about the questions to be included on the form and as soon as the text has been agreed, the form will be printed and brought into use.
Maintenance Payments
Mr. Frank Field : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the present criteria for deciding whether his Department will collect maintenance payments on behalf of income support claimants ; and in what proportion of cases these arrangements currently operate.
Mr. Jack : The Department will collect maintenance payments on behalf of a claimant to income support if the liable relative does not pay the full maintenance due, pays late or misses a payment. Payments can also be collected by the Department where there are other good grounds for doing so--for instance, if there is a threat of violence from the liable relative.
The latest information held is for May 1989 , and shows that at that time just under a quarter of maintenance payments for income support claimants were collected on their behalf by the Department. Source : Annual Statistical Enquiry, May 1989.
Vaccine Damage Payments Act
Mr. Barry Field : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the latest figures of applications made under the Vaccine Damage Payments Act 1979 ; and how many cases have been successful or are still under consideration.
Mr. Scott : Between 1979 and 31 May 1991, 3,447 applications for vaccine damage payments were received.
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Of these, 848 awards were made, 72 are still under consideration and 44 have been referred at the claimant's request to the independent vaccine damage payments tribunal.Pensions
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the estimated net cost or gain to the Exchequer in the current financial year of the final or incremental 34p by which retirement pension exceeds the single person's income support level inclusive of the £13.75 pensioner premium.
Miss Widdecombe : There is no net gain or loss to the Exchequer. A single pensioner on income support, inclusive of the £13.75 pensioner premium, receives £1.40 more than the full basic level retirement pension.
Belfast Office
Mrs. Dunwoody : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many telephone and fax lines are available at the Belfast office of his Department dealing with benefit claims from applicants in London ;
(2) what is the average time taken before claimants receive substantive replies to queries from his Department's office in Belfast sent in by (a) fax and (b) telephone ;
(3) what is the cost of the system of phone referrals of local calls from London to his Department's office in Belfast for the year 1990-91.
Miss Widdecombe : The relocation of benefits work to the social security centre in Belfast is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member with such information as is available and copies will be placed in the Library and the Public Information Office.
Euro-card
Mr. Meacher : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the latest position on a European card for pensioners.
Mr. Jack : I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Worsley (Mr. Lewis) on 25 March at column 290. I will send him a copy of the letter I wrote to Members of the European Parliament on 28 February.
Attendance Allowance
Mrs. Irene Adams : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people registered disabled receive attendance allowance in (a) Scotland, (b) Strathclyde and (c) Renfrew district.
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