HC Deb 17 December 1998 vol 322 cc625-6W
Mr. Llew Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions

housing in the period 1992 to 1997 and (b) the proposed levels of support for social housing in the period 1997 to 2000. [63422]

Mr. Raynsford

[holding answer 14 December 1998]: The available information on allocations or outturns for expenditure on social housing stock made by central Government since 1992–93 is set out. Allocations for 2000–2001 have not yet been finalised but, as announced in the summer following the Comprehensive Spending Review, the housing capital allocations to local authorities will increase by around £600 million in 2000–2001. Some of the resources allocated through the Single Regeneration Budget, New Deal for Communities, and City Challenge that will be used for investment in social housing are not separately identified in the allocations made.

took place at the heads of delegation meeting for the OSPAR convention held on 12 and 13 November in London, in respect of the disposal to sea of chemical and conventional explosive munitions; and if he will place in the Library copies of the United Kingdom submissions made on this matter to OSPAR. [63902]

Mr. Meacher

As agreed at the Ministerial Meeting of the OSPAR Commission in July, the meeting of Heads of Delegation considered past dumping of chemical weapons and munitions (further dumping of this kind is, of course, prohibited by the OSPAR Convention). The meeting invited the Contracting Parties and observers to submit to the Government of the Republic of Ireland the available information on chemical weapons, munitions and related material dumped in the past, and on retrieval events, dumped material which has turned up in unexpected places and dumpings by states other than OSPAR Contracting Parties. That information will be presented by the Republic of Ireland to the Sea-Based Activities Working Group at its meeting on 15 February 1999, and the meeting of the Heads of Delegation in May will then consider what should be done. No formal papers have yet been submitted to the OSPAR Commission or the Heads of Delegation meeting on this issue.