685
Written
[ 19 OCTOBER 1981]
(c) low this compares with the average subsidy to a tenant of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive.
Lord Cockfield: The latest available information based on 1980-81 income levels is as follows:-
(a) Estimated
(b) Per Mortgagor Mortgage Relief
receiving Tax Relief
£m
£m 30
375
(c) Based on the difference between income and expenditure in the Housing Executive's General Housing Account, the average contribution towards Housing Executive dwellings for the year ended 31st March 1981 was £468 per dwelling.
BARN CONVERSION: ENCOURAGEMENT
Lord Wakefield of Kendal asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, in view of the need to create employment in the national parks and for conservation purposes, encouragement will be given for the conversion of barns no longer required for occupation and use by animals, so that they may be occupied and used by people instead of such buildings becoming ruins and an eyesore in the countryside.
The Earl of Avon: The Government is encouraging new uses for redundant agricultural buildings both in the National Parks and elsewhere. The Development Commission, and the Council for Small Industries in Rural Areas, are funding and administering projects for the conversion of redundant farm buildings for industrial use. In 1980-81, CoSIRA received approval to spend some £125,000 on conversion projects, and they are also able to offer advisory, credit and training facilities.
As regards control of development, my right honour- able friend the Secretary of State for the Environment has already in Circular 22/80 asked local authorities to grant permission for the establishment of small businesses in redundant buildings, including farm buildings, unless there are specific and convincing planning objections. He would expect a similar approach towards proposals to convert such buildings to dwellings.
ETHNIC MINORITIES AND EMPLOYMENT POLICIES
Lord Brockway asked Her Majesty's Government:
What action they propose to take arising from the evidence in the Home Office Research Study No. 68 on Ethnic Minorities in Britain that black workers are disproportionately employed in manual jobs and in manufacturing industry.
Earl Ferrers: The Home Office Research Study has usefully brought together information and examined trends on the position of the ethnic minorities, but successive Governments have long been aware of the evidence relating to the distribution of the ethnic minorities within industry and within occupational
Answers
686
groups, and have taken that into account, along with other relevant information, in reviewing employment policies.
HERRING FISHING: RESTRICTION ON INDUSTRIAL USE
Lord Inglewood asked Her Majesty's Government:
What steps they are taking to ensure that herring caught in the waters newly reopened for fishing are not used for industrial purposes as long as any substantial demand for such herring for human food remains unsatisfied.
Earl Ferrers: The management arrangements for fishing the herring stock have been deliberately designed, among other things, to ensure a phased supply of herring for human consumption. Supplies are diverted to industrial use only if the market for human consumption at reasonable prices has been satisfied.
NICARAGUA: US AND SOVIET DIPLOMATIC STAFF
Lord Chitnis asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they are aware that there are 12 times more American than Russian diplomats based in Nicaragua; and what significance they read into that figure.
The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Lord Carrington): According to a list published by the Nicaraguan Foreign Ministry in July, 1981, there are 21 United States and 15 Soviet diplomatic staff in Managua.
BRITISH GAS CORPORATION: DISPOSAL OF ASSETS
Lord Beloff asked Her Majesty's Government:
If they will make a statement on the divestment of certain assets of the British Gas Corporation.
Lord Skelmersdale: The Secretary of State for Energy issued a direction last week, under section 7 of the Gas Act, instructing the British Gas Corporation to dispose of their stake in the Wytch Farm onshore oilfield. This needs to be seen in the context of the Government's overall plans for privatisation and competition in the oil and gas industries.
First, the Government propose to introduce legisla- tion to allow the transfer of the entire oil-producing business of the British National Oil Corporation to the private sector, with the state retaining only a minority stake. Secondly, the Government will also be seeking powers to privatise the British Gas Corpora- tion's substantial offshore oil business.
These powers will also enable the Gas Corporation to be required to dispose of its showrooms. As we have made clear, it is essential that safety standards are fully maintained. This will require complex safety legislation for which there is unlikely to be time
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