House of Commons Hansard Debates for 7 Dec 1992

Iraq

Mr. Foulkes : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) on what date Her Majesty's Government last made representations to the United Nations special commission of inspection on Iraq ;

(2) on what dates Her Majesty's Government have received requests for information and assistance from the United Nations special commission of inspection on Iraq ; and on what dates the Government responded to those requests.

Mr. Douglas Hogg : The Government have worked closely with the United Nations special commission on Iraq--UNSCOM--since it was set up in April 1991. The United Kingdom mission to the United Nations is in almost daily contact with UNSCOM.

COCOM

Mr. Wareing : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's present policy towards the co-ordinating committee on multilateral strategic export controls (COCOM), indicating if any changes are in prospect.

Mr. Douglas Hogg : As indicated in the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State to the hon. Member for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn) on 5 June at column 673 , the present policy of all countries participating in the co-ordinating committee on multilateral export controls is to provide those proscribed destinations that have embarked on political reform with progressively wider access to COCOM-controlled goods and technology, as they establish effective export controls. To this end, an informal co-operation forum on export controls has been established : its first meeting was held in Paris on 23 and 24 November.

Coffins

Mr. Mackinlay : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he proposes to ensure that coffins used to repatriate, for cremation, the remains of British nationals from Spain, comply with EEC directive 84/360.

Mr. Maclean : I have been asked to reply. There are no requirements in EEC directive 84/360 as to the type or composition of coffins for cremation.

TRANSPORT

King's Cross Fire

Sir John Wheeler : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made by London Transport in implementing the recommendations of the Fennel report into the King's Cross underground fire.

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Mr. Norris : London Transport has fully implemented 106 out of 127 recommendations addressed to it and has partially completed a further 12. One recommendation was not accepted by LT, but its objective has been achieved through other means. Work on implementing the remainder is progressing well. A copy of London Transport's detailed report on progress up to the end of August has been placed in the Library.

Nuclear Material (Transport)

Ms. Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport by what modes of transport (a) plutonium, (b) enriched uranium and (c) natural uranium are transported (i) within, (ii) into and (iii) from the United Kingdom ; and if he will name in each case the ports used.

Mr. Norris : By land, sea and air. The consignors choose the mode, and port when needed.

Ms. Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will provide details of the nature and quantity of irradiated nuclear fuel, plutonium and high-level radioactive waste transported by sea to and from, or by, the United Kingdom in each of the last five years.

Mr. Norris : This information is not held by the Department.

Ms. Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received regarding the air freighting of fresh plutonium-bearing nuclear fuel pins from Germany to Dounreay in Scotland.

Mr. Norris : None.

Ms. Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, (1) pursuant to his answer of 24 November, Official Report, column 561, if he will set out the names of the persons with details of their expertise, who will represent Her Majesty's Government at the International Atomic Energy Agency-International Maritime Organisation-United Nations Environment Programme working group on the transport of irradiated nuclear fuel ;

(2) pursuant to his answer of 24 November, Official Report, column 561, if he will name the specialists in the transport of irradiated nuclear fuel who will be representing him at the forthcoming joint International Atomic Energy Authority-International Maritime Organisation-United Nations Environment Programme working group meeting.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : The Department will be represented by : Mr. K. James, a chartered engineer with 28 years' experience in the transport of hazardous material by sea, chairman of the IMO's sub-committee on the carriage of dangerous goods--CDG ; Mr. C. K. Wilson, a physicist specialising in criticality safety and radiological protection with 10 years' experience regulating the transport of radioactive materials ; Mr. C. N. Young, a chartered engineer with 14 years' experience in the regulation of radioactive material transport, chairman of the IMO's CDG working group on class 7 dangerous goods--radioactive materials.

Ms. Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information his Department routinely collects and stores centrally on the import and export of nuclear materials by different transport modes to and from the United Kingdom.

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Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : The Department routinely collects that information which is required by the International Atomic Energy Agency publication "Safety Series No. 6 : Regulations for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Material", a copy of which is held in the Library of the House.

Ms. Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what evaluation his Department has made of any of the safety standards set by the International Atomic Energy Agency for the international transport of (a) plutonium, (b) enriched uranium, (c) natural uranium and (d) radioactive waste.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : The Department is involved in the evaluation of the safety standards for the transport of all radioactive materials on an ongoing basis and is a major contributor to the International Atomic Energy Agency's programme of review and revision of its international regulations.

Ms. Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he last met the advisory committee on the safe transport of radioactive materials ; and what matters were discussed and decided.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : This committee was disbanded on 31 January 1989.

Ms. Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his Department's policy in regard to evaluation of independent reports published on the transport of nuclear materials.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : To consider them on their merits.

Railway Equipment Manufacturers

Mr. Peter Bottomley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received from railway equipment manufacturers about investment decisions for work during the next six years.

Mr. Freeman : The Railway Industry Association has submitted a copy of its evidence to the Transport Select Committee on the Government's White Paper on BR privatisation. The Steer Davies Gleave report "Rail Privatisation : Attractive Investment or Wishful Thinking" has also been submitted on behalf of the Railway Industry Association, Eurotunnel and Transport 2000. Representations have been received from several individual railway manufacturers and I am meeting the Railway Industry Association on 8 December to discuss prospects for the industry.

General Register and Record Office of Shipping

Mr. Kilfoyle : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to contract out or divide up the General Register and Record Office of Shipping.

Mr. Norris : I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Cardiff, South and Penarth (Mr. Michael) on 25 November, at column 659.

School Buses

Mr. David Porter : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what account he has taken of (a) parental and school governors' wishes, (b) the particular road

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conditions of rural areas and (c) road safety in his policy on carrying three children on a double school bus seat ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : The regulations governing the carrying capacity of public service vehicles permit three seated children under 14, sharing a double seat to count as two passengers. This is a concession and they do not have to be seated in this manner. These regulations apply throughout the country and it would not be practicable to have regional variations to take account of particular road conditions. Buses and coaches are the safest form of road passenger transport in this country, even where children are seated three to a double seat.

We are continuing to review these regulations and will take account of the wishes of parents and others. For the present, I have no plans to amend them.

Disabled Passengers

Sir John Hannam : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what will be the expected annual saving to the Exchequer arising from the repeal of the vehicle excise duty exemption under the disabled passengers scheme.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : I understand the saving will be in the region of £440,000, in the first year, based on the approximate annual number of new applications.

Current beneficiaries under this scheme will not lose their entitlement to exemption from vehicle excise duty as a result of the repeal.

Traffic Commissioners (North Staffordshire)

Ms. Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give details of the staffing resources available to the traffic commissioners responsible for north Staffordshire.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : There are 46.5 permanent staff based at the West Midland traffic area office who provide support for the West Midland traffic commissioner whose geographical area includes north Staffordshire. The staff includes one grade 7 clerk, who is also the clerk of the South Wales traffic area office, two higher executive officers, five executive officers and 38.5 administrative and support staff.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

Science and Technology

Sir Giles Shaw : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he now intends to publish the White Paper on science and technology.

Mr. Waldegrave : I intend to publish the White Paper in the early part of next year.

Sir Giles Shaw : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what proposals he has for opportunities for further consultation after the publication of the White Paper on science and technology.

Mr. Waldegrave : The White Paper will itself need to address any questions of further consultation. But I would welcome any views which my hon. Friend, who I know is the Chairman of the Select Committee on Science and Technology, may have.

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Citizens Charter

Mr. Adley : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make it his policy that requirements imposed under the citizens charter will continue to be applied to services sold to the private sector.

Mr. Waldegrave : The citizens charter applies to all public services, and, in the private sector, to the main utilities where the regulatory bodies play a key role in protecting customers' interests in accordance with citizens' charter principles and in helping to develop competition. We will continue to appoint regulatory bodies following privatisation where it is in the public interest to do so.

Civil Servants

Mr. Raymond S. Robertson : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many civil servants are currently employed by his Department (a) in London and (b elsewhere.

Mr. Waldegrave : Excluding its executive agencies, the Office of Public Service and Science employs 1,430 civil servants, 711 in London and 719 elsewhere, including those who work on a part-time basis.

PRIME MINISTER

Radiation

Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Prime Minister if he will set out the division of responsibilities between each Government Department in investigating the risks posed by exposure to radiation.

The Prime Minister : The Department of Health is responsible in general terms for the protection of public health against radiological hazards. The Department's specific responsibilities relate to obtaining expert advice ; initiating relevant research ; and ensuring an effective health response in the event of a radiological emergency.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food's responsibilities are to protect the population from exposure to unacceptable levels of radioactivity through food chain pathways ; and to minimise the impact of radioactive waste on the food, farming and fishing industries and the marine environment.

The Department of Trade and Industry is responsible for civil nuclear safety in relation to the generation of electricity. The Department of Employment is responsible for the Ionising Radiation Regulations 1985, which concern the protection of workers and the public from radiation doses received as a result of any work involving ionising radiations. On this the Department is advised by the Health and Safety Commission and the regulations are enforced by the Health and Safety Executive.

The Department of the Environment is responsible for establishing a radioactive waste management policy and for monitoring the environment for radioactivity. Within the Department, the regulators--Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution--have the statutory responsibility in England and Wales for authorising uses and disposals of radioactive substances.

The Ministry of Defence is responsible for defence nuclear and radiological safety.

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The Department of Transport is responsible for the safety aspects of the transportation of radioactive material.

The Scottish Office, the Welsh Office and the Northern Ireland Office are responsible for all civil aspects of radiological safety in relation to their respective parts of the United Kingdom. The National Radiological Protection Board is responsible under the Radiological Protection Act 1970 for advancing knowledge of radiological protection and for informing and advising Government Departments and others on protection from radiation hazards.

Animal Welfare

Mr. Peter Bottomley : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the Government Departments concerned with the main areas of animal welfare, indicating their respective responsibilities.

The Prime Minister : A number of Government Departments have responsibility for the welfare and conservation of animals and related matters.

The Department of the Environment is responsible for policy on stray dogs ; the protection of birds ; wildlife and endangered species.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is responsible for the welfare of livestock kept on agricultural land ; the welfare of livestock at market and the welfare of horses, cattle, sheep, swine, goats and poultry in slaughterhouses and knackers yards. The Ministry is also involved in the campaign against illegal poisoning of wildlife and in the International Whaling Commission, and has responsibility for the impact of fishing practices on cetaceans. The Home Office is responsible for ensuring the adequacy of the law on cruelty to animals in general and in some specific areas, and for the law on the use of living animals in scientific procedures. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office works to raise the profile of animal welfare issues abroad, both bilaterally and with international organisations concerned.

Maastricht Treaty

Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Prime Minister how many representations his office has received on the Maastricht treaty from 1 January to 1 December giving a disaggregated breakdown between those originating in the United Kingdom and those from abroad.

The Prime Minister : I have received a substantial number of representations on the Maastricht treaty covering a wide range of issues.

Legal Expenses Insurance Policies

Mr. Alex Carlile : To ask the Prime Minister if he will require Ministers to take out legal expenses insurance policies.

The Prime Minister : I have no plans to do so.

Freight Traffic

Mr. Adley : To ask the Prime Minister if it remains his Government's policy to seek the transfer of freight traffic from road to rail ; and if he will report on the extent to which freight has been transferred to rail since April 1992.

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The Prime Minister : The Government believe that freight should be transported by rail whenever that makes commercial sense to customers and rail operators alike. The best way to facilitate this is to end British Rail's monopoly of rail services, as proposed in the White Paper "New Opportunities for the Railways", Cm 2012. Detailed information about rail freight carryings since April 1992 is a matter for British Rail.

Mr. Adley : To ask the Prime Minister if he will order an immediate inquiry into the reasons for and effect of the fall in the volume of rail freight traffic.

The Prime Minister : Rail freight has been in decline for many years. The Government's proposals for the privatisation of British Rail's freight operations, and the opening up of the rail network to new entrants, are aimed at improving rail's prospects for the future.

Tropical Timber

Mr. Meacher : To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the United Kingdom Government's position in respect of the preparatory committee for renegotiation of the international tropical timber agreement to be convened in Quito, Ecuador, in January 1993.

The Prime Minister : The United Kingdom had hoped that a second preparatory committee in Quito, Ecuador would be unnecessary ; however, the tropical timber-producing countries require more time to develop their positions before discussing them with the consuming countries. The Quito meeting will provide a valuable opportunity for the producing and consuming countries to identify the issues they wish to renegotiate. The United Kingdom intends to participate in the second preparatory meeting and will work with its European neighbours for a speedy renegotiation of the 1983 agreement.

Iraq

Mr. Mackinlay : To ask the Prime Minister what steps Her Majesty's Government took during 1990 and prior to Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, to halt the export to Iraq of furnaces constructed by Consarc Engineering of Bellshill, near Glasgow.

The Prime Minister [holding answer 2 December 1992] : It is not normal practice to discuss the affairs of individual companies.

Mr. Mackinlay : To ask the Prime Minister (1) what requests Her Majesty's Government received from the United States Administration to stop the export to Iraq of two furnaces constructed by Consarc Engineering at Bellshill, near Glasgow, during 1990 ;

(2) what communications Her Majesty's Government received from the United States Administration during 1990 and prior to Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, concerning involvement by British companies in equipping a missile factory called Badr General Establishment.

The Prime Minister [holding answer 2 December 1992] : Communications between Governments are confidential.

Civil List

Mr. Alan Williams : To ask the Prime Minister what items or headings of expenditure have been transferred from the royal family's expenditure funded from the civil

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list to the Government since 1972 ; on what dates ; what is the current cost to the Exchequer of each such item or heading ; and what was their cost at the time of their transfer.

The Prime Minister [holding answer 2 December 1992] : So far as I am aware, no items or headings of direct expenditure have been transferred from the civil list to the Government since 1972. However, following advice taken in 1987, consistent with government fees and charges policy, the royal household took on board the feasibility of charging full costs for certain administrative services. These included, for example, charging for the accommodation and support services provided to staff based in the royal household but who are employed by Government Departments. Similar charges are made on behalf of the civil list to the household's royal collection department and to the Prince of Wales's office. The cost to Government Departments in the years 1987-90, which should be seen in the context of the "1990 Royal Trustees Report"--HC 629--are as follows :


        |£              

------------------------

1987    |83,372         

1988    |138,310        

1989    |132,809        

1990    |162,810

The separate identification of full costs for administrative services is in line with the Government's policy of identifying costs across the public sector.

Furniture and Furnishings (Regulations)

Mr. Michael : To ask the Prime Minister which Government Department is responsible for drafting the Furniture and Furnishings Fire Safety Regulations ; and what consultations are being undertaken on the terms of the regulations.

The Prime Minister [holding answer 3 December 1992] : The Furniture and Furnishings (Fire Safety) Regulations were made by the Department of Trade and Industry in July 1988. The DTI has recently consulted public on draft amendment regulations proposing to postpone, from 1 March 1993 to 1 March 1994, the date by which furniture included in the letting of accommodation must meet the fire resistance requirements of the 1988 regulations. The purpose of the proposed amendment is to allow businesses providing furnished accommodation more time to prepare for the fire resistance requirements and to complete the upgrading or replacement of their existing stock of furniture. It will remain a requirement that any additional replacement or additional furniture which they supply from 1 March 1993 must meet the fire resistance requirements.

NATIONAL FINANCE

Civil Servants

Mr. Raymond S. Robertson : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many civil servants from his departments have been relocated from London to other parts of the United Kingdom (a) in the last five years and (b) in the last 10 years ; and to where they were relocated.

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Mr. Dorrell : A total of 3,114 posts from the Chancellor's departments have been relocated from London in the last five years under the current delegated approach. The table lists the moves by department and destination.

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