§ Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Secretary of State for Energy how many acres of land are owned by electricity undertakings in England and Wales, gas undertakings, the National Coal Board and undertakings for the supply of hydraulic
720Wafter conversion—would be suitable for the use proposed for them. Although the Secretary of state accepts that the question of sixth form provision in the inner areas presents a particularly acute problem, its solution is likely to have city-wide implications, and it would have been preferable to consider the proposals for sixth form provision in the inner area in the context of sixth form provision over the Authority as a whole. This is why the Secretary of State has deferred her decision in respect of the proposals to add sixth forms to Ellergreen and Croxteth Schools and to reduce the age range of Lambeth School, believing that the Authority will wish to review the whole question of post-compulsory age school provision throughout the City. The Secretary of State hopes that in considering this question the Authority will bear in mind that she considers it to be of the greatest importance that there should be open access to sixth form provision.
In conclusion, I am to say that the Secretary of State is pleased that the Authority is considering seriously the implications of falling rolls and the rationalisation of their secondary school provision, and she hopes that the above comments will be helpful to the Authority in formulating further proposals.
Yours faithfully,
B. Bekhradnia.
§ Mr. Altonasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many pupils in the city of Liverpool passed five or more O-levels in 1978; how many passed two or more A-levels; and how this compares with the national averages.
§ Miss Margaret JacksonI regret this information is not yet available. However, information readily available from the 1976–77 school leavers survey is shown in the following table:
power, respectively; and how much of each acreage is surplus to requirements and is being offered for sale as development land.
§ Dr. MabonThe industries' estimates are:
721W
British Gas Corporation 11,000 acres Electricity supply industry 55,000 acres National Coal Board 216,000 acres The electricity supply industry estimate is the best available, and derives from a survey in 1976; however, there have been no substantial changes since then. My Department does not sponsor any undertakings for the supply of hydraulic power. Details of land requirements are a matter for the respective industries.
§ Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Secretary of State for Energy what procedure is used for resolving a case where the Department of the Environment approves a local plan which indicates an alternative use for statutory undertakers' land declared operational by him.
§ Dr. MabonI am advised that such plans are normally approved by the local planning authority. Approval of a local plan by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment would involve the use of reserve powers: so far this has not arisen.
If a local plan indicated an alternative use for a statutory undertaker's land, and it were wished to implement the alternative use, the authority or my right hon. Friend could make a compulsory purchase order comprising the land. If, however, a representation were made to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy by an energy statutory undertaker concerned, the order would not be effective unless either he confirmed it jointly with the Secretary of State for the Environment, or issued a certificate that the loss of the land, or its replacement by other land, would not cause serious detriment to the undertaking.
§ Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he had had any discussions with the boards of the nationalised industries for which he is responsible, with a view to obtaining a speedier release of land owned by them but not presently used for operational purposes.
§ Mr. Benn,pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 3 April 1979; Vol. 965, c. 625–6), gave the following further information:
I now understand that, at the Government's instigation, talks at local level are now being held with nationalised industries, including coal, gas and electricity 722W supply, about the possibility of releasing land in the seven inner city partnership areas.