§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of Stare for Scotland how many teaching staff were employed in public sector higher education in Scotland for each year since 1979.
§ Mr. Allan StewartThe following table gives the available information on the numbers of staff employed in public sector further education. It is not possible in all cases to distinguish between staff engaged in teaching advanced and non-advanced courses.
scientific analyses of such air pads to test for the presence of trace amounts of dioxins, furans and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB's) and arrange for the reports of such analyses to be published.
§ Mr. AncramI have no reason to believe that fly ash from fossil fuelled power stations within 20 miles of Bonnybridge will make a significant contribution to background levels of dioxins, furans and polychlorinated biphenyls but I have asked my Inspectorate to pursue this matter with the SSEB.
§ Mr. Canavanasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will seek information from the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency about the modification proposed in Sweden to existing waste incinerators to ensure that toxic wastes are burnt in such a manner as to preclude the inadvertent production of dioxins and furans.
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§ Mr. AncramHer Majesty's industrial pollution inspectorate, as part of an on-going study, seeks information on waste incinerator operations at home and abroad; this will include the operation in Sweden.
§ Mr. Canavanasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will seek to obtain information from present and former employees of Re-Chem International Ltd. of the precise circumstances surrounding the incineration at the company's Bonnybridge plant of substances capable of producing dioxins, furans and other persistent toxins during the period of 1974 to 1984 inclusive.
§ Mr. AncramNo. It would not be appropriate to seek the information requested in the manner suggested.
§ Mr. Canavanasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is satisfied that the water authorities in Central Scotland have enough money to allow them access to laboratories equipped to test for the presence in drinking water of polychlorinated byphenyls, polychlorinated terphenyls, polybrominated byphenyls, and for dioxins and furans, in parts per trillion; what samples of water are taken regularly for laboratory analysis at this scale of measurement; and whether he will publish in full the results of such analyses.
§ Mr. AncramI am not aware of any of the water authorities in central Scotland having been deterred by financial considerations from making use of laboratories equipped to analyse samples of water for the substances to which the hon. Member refers. The information sought on sampling and the results of analyses are not held centrally.
§ Mr. Canavanasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any information about whether the equipment used by Re-Chem International Ltd. at its Bonnybridge incinerator plant between 1974 and 1984 was at all times operated strictly in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions and specifications.
§ Mr. AncramI do not have information in this form. During the period, however, the plant was required to operate within the best practicable means as set by Her Majesty's Industrial Pollution Inspectorate. On the occasions when breaches were known to have occurred, appropriate action was taken by the inspectorate.
§ Mr. Canavanasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has any information about the level of contamination by toxic wastes present in soil and dust in the Denny and Bonnybridge areas.
§ Mr. AncramSamples of soil from several locations have been analysed for polychlorinated byphenyls and derivatives. The results are satisfactory except in one location where part of a field adjacent to a disused refuse tip is contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls, polychlorinated dibemdzo dioxins and polychlorinated dibemdzo furins. Investigations into the significance and extent of the contamination are continuing.
I am aware that samples from this same field have been analysed, at the request of the farmer, for heavy metals. The results have been sent to him by the laboratories involved.