§ Dr. Marekasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he can make of the cost of living on St. Helena compared with the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. EggarLiving conditions on a small and remote island such as St. Helena are very different from those in the United Kingdom. A comparison between the costs of living in St. Helena and the United Kingdom could not therefore be achieved without a calculation of a new United Kingdom index based on the cost of living in St. Helena.
§ Dr. Marekasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he can make of the percentage increase in the cost of household goods after they have been transported to St. Helena from the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. EggarInformal estimates suggest that goods overall are 30 per cent. more expensive after transport. However, within this average a number of high volume household items, such as canned and paper goods, are markedly more expensive. St. Helena has no value added tax; but import duties and mark-up on non-food items offset this.
§ Dr. Marekasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he can make of the present percentage of electors on St. Helena able to stand for election to the Legislative Council.
§ Mr. EggarLocal estimates indicate that about 40 per cent. of the present registered electors would be eligible to stand for election.
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§ Dr. Marekasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to lower the voting age to 18 years on St. Helena.
§ Mr. EggarThe matter is being considered by St. Helenians in the context of the need for constitutional reform.
§ Dr. Marekasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many St. Helenians are on the electoral roll at present on St. Helena; how this compares with three years ago; and what estimate he can make of the total population eligible for inclusion on the roll.
§ Mr. EggarThe number of St. Helenians currently on the electoral roll is 1,644. The figure for 1982 was 1,704. The estimate of the total population eligible for inclusion on the roll is 3,345.
§ Dr. Marekasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether asbestos is still used in the construction of dwellings in St. Helena.
§ Mr. EggarAfter careful consideration of the report produced in 1984 by the hon. Member and my hon. Friend the Member for Bristol, East (Mr. Sayeed), the St. Helena Government continue to use asbestos cement corrugated roofing sheets on Government built dwellings. The introduction of stringent safety precautions and work practices has reduced the health danger to a level judged by the island's chief medical officer as minimal. The use of alternative roofing materials has been discounted on technical, financial and suitability grounds.