HC Deb 27 March 1991 vol 188 cc455-7W
32. Mr. Dalyell

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what actions he has taken to help alleviate Gulf oil slicks and oil well fires since 15 March.

Mr. Key

My right hon. Friend has met representatives of the Social and Liberal Democratic party, the Scottish Nationalist party, Plaid Cymru and the Ulster Unionist party as well as the local authority associations. Further meetings will be arranged as appropriate. In addition, we continue to receive a large volume of correspondence from hon. and right hon. Members of this House, representations from various institutions and organisations, and letters from the general public.

Mr. Shore

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of total local government current expenditure, excluding grants for domestic rate rebates, was accounted for by central Government revenue grant in each year from 1978–79 to the current year 1991–92; and what additional amount of Government grant would have been necessary to bring the percentage of Government grant in total local authority current expenditure up to the 1978–79 level.

Mr. Portillo

[holding answer 25 March 1991]: The information for the English local authorities is as follows:

Mr. Baldry

We will endeavour to respond positively to requests we receive from the Gulf states wherever we are in a position to do so.

Mr. Dalyell

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to theOfficial Report, 15 March, column 1384, what response he has had from the Kuwaiti Government about Dr. Nigel Downing's proposals for protecting coral atolls.

Mr. Baldry

[holding answer 21 March 1991]: Dr. Downing's recommendations for minimising ecological damage to offshore coral reefs within the Gulf war zone have been passed both to the military authorities and, following the restoration of the Government of Kuwait, to them. I will write to the hon. Member when I have substantive news.