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Hazardous Waste
Mr. Kirkwood : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on what new plans he has to deal with the future disposal of chemical hazardous waste.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave on 14 December to the hon. Member for Stretford (Mr. Lloyd), Official Report, column 612. Since then, we have issued a further consultation paper, on
Column 522
24 January, proposing additional measures affecting the future of waste disposal control. A copy of this paper has been placed in the Library of the House.Mr. Kirkwood : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in the Official Report initiatives taken since 1979 to deal with the problems associated with the storage of hazardous chemical waste.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : The Control of Pollution Act 1974 requires, under section 3, that any land being used for the purposes of waste disposal must be licenced by the local waste disposal authority. These licences were originally issued under the Control of Pollution (Licensing of Waste Disposal) Regulations 1976 (as amended) and subsequently by the Collection and Disposal of Waste Regulations 1988.
The 1988 regulations require the licensing of premises used to store wastes (including hazardous wastes) under certain circumstances. The regulations require a licence to be issued where special wastes--as defined by the Control of Pollution (Special Waste) Regulations 1980--are stored above certain quantities. These limits are as follows :
(a) liquid wastes in excess of 23,000 litres stored in secure containers ;
(b) non-liquid wastes of a total volume greater than 80 cubic metres stored in secure containers ; and
(c) non-liquid wastes of a total volume greater than 50 cubic metres stored in a secure place or places.
The licence issued by the waste disposal authority should contain all necessary conditions to ensure that the operation of the licensed facility does not give rise to a danger to public health or cause pollution to water. It is the duty of the waste disposal authority to enforce the conditions of the licence and ensure compliance. The operators of such facilities also have responsibilities towards their workers which are covered by health and safety legislation.
Mr. Kirkwood : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in the Official Report those sites now designated as official storage sites for hazardous chemical waste ; and when each site was last inspected by his inspectors.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : The Control of Pollution Act 1974 requires, under section 3, that any land being used for the purposes of waste disposal must be licensed by the local waste disposal authority. Sites which store hazardous waste (specifically) special waste as defined in the Control of Pollution (Special Waste) Regulations above certain quantities have required such licences since 1976.
Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution has records of some 126 such licensed facilities in England and Wales. As Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution does not hold copies of all waste disposal licences it would be necessary to obtain copies from the respective waste disposal authorities in order to provide full details. This would involve disproportionate cost.
Mr. Kirkwood : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in the Official Report the additional requirements that a site designated as suitable for storage of hazardous chemical waste has to have before it is so designated.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : The Control of Pollution Act 1974 requires, under section 3, that any land being used for the purposes of waste disposal must be licenced by the
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local waste disposal authority. Sites which store hazardous waste--specifically special waste as defined in the Control of Pollution (Special Waste) Regulations--above certain quantities have required such licences since 1976.Waste disposal authorities are required to licence each waste disposal site individually taking into account all necessary measures to ensure that the facility operates in such a way as to prevent danger to public health and to avoid the pollution of water. Premises licenced to store hazardous waste are treated in exactly the same manner as any other waste disposal facility and, as such, there are no specific statutory requirements that apply solely to such facilities. Guidance on the issues that might be addressed in a licence for the storage of hazardous waste has been given by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution in waste management paper No. 4.
Mr. Winnick : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what requests have been made to him by the Walsall metropolitan borough council regarding action over the disposal of hazardous and toxic waste ; and what has been his response.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley [holding answer 3 February 1989] : In the past year, the Department has responded in detailed correspondence and discussion about the council's views on the need for more controls over disposal operations and imports and about their wish to eliminate hazardous waste disposal operations from their area. Those responses have included emphasis on the need for waste disposal authorities to meet the requirements of the Control of Pollution Act 1974 in planning and controlling waste disposal and explanations of the Government proposals for legislative improvements and the mechanism of the recently introduced Transfrontier Shipment of Hazardous Waste Regulations.
Mr. Kirkwood : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in the Official Report initiatives taken since 1979 to deal with the problems associated with the storage of hazardous chemical waste.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 31 January 1989] : I have been asked to reply.
My officials have taken part with the Department of the Environment in the preparation of United Kingdom waste management papers on a number of topics relevant to special wastes, including :
|Year
----------------------------------------
Wood preserving wastes |1980
Arsenic bearing wastes |1980
Pesticide wastes |1980
Special wastes |1981
Clinical wastes |1983
Cadmium bearing wastes |1984
Heat treatment cyanide wastes |1985
The Control of Pollution (Licensing of Waste Disposal) (Scotland) Regulations 1977 and the Control of Pollution (Special Waste) Regulations, made in 1980, are being reviewed.
The need for a licence covering storage of special waste is drawn to the attention of waste disposal authorities during formal visits by the hazardous waste inspectorate.
Mr. Kirkwood : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in the Official Report those sites
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now designated as official storage sites for hazardous chemical waste ; and when each site was last inspected by his inspectors.Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 31 January 1989] : I have been asked to reply.
Waste disposal authorities are not obliged to make returns giving details of their licences. From information held centrally we have identified four facilities in Scotland which are licensed solely for the storage of certain hazardous waste. These are :--
Address of storage |Waste disposal authority
facility
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eni-Chem Elastomers |Falkirk District Council
Bo'ness Road
Grangemouth
Non-Tox Limited |Inverness District Council
Dalcross Industrial Estate
Ardesier
Strathclyde Department of Education |Hamilton District Council
Auchingramont Road
Hamilton
BP Petroleum Development Limited |Shetland Islands Council
The Vadill
Sullom Voe Terminal
It is the duty of waste disposal authorities to supervise the operation of all licensed facilities in their area. An inspector from the hazardous waste inspectorate did however visit the Sullom Voe site in 1984.
Storage facilities exist at other sites licensed for the disposal of waste, but are not identified separately.
Mr. Kirkwood : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in the Official Report the additional requirements that a site designated as suitable for storage of hazardous chemical waste has to have before it is so designated.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 31 January 1989] : I have been asked to reply.
Waste disposal authorities are required to license each waste disposal site individually and such licences may incorporate conditions relating to storage. There are no specific statutory requirements that apply solely to storage facilities.
In setting licence conditions applicable to any site, a waste disposal authority will take account of the materials to be stored, the nature of the operation and its location. Licence conditions for each site seek to ensure that each waste facility does not present a danger to public health, cause water pollution or become seriously detrimental to the amenity of the locality.
London Docklands Development Corporation
Mr. Spearing : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the terms of reference given by the London Docklands Development Corporation to Research Bureau Ltd. on employment in the London Docklands ; on what date it was commissioned ; what was the fee paid ; on what date he received a copy ; and what is the likely date of publication.
Mr. Trippier : The LDDC commissioned Research Bureau Ltd. to report on the changes in employment in Docklands since the previous survey in 1985, by letters
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dated 1 May and 21 July 1987. For reasons of commercial confidentiality, fees for individual consultancies are not normally disclosed. The corporation plans to release the survey results this month, and a copy will be placed in the Library. My Department will also receive a copy.Nuclear Waste
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what studies Her Majesty's Government have commissioned on the sub-sea disposal of nuclear waste ; which private companies are involved ; and if he will summarise what role each has.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : The Department of the Environment commissioned research on the feasibility and safety of subseabed disposal of radio-active waste as part of an international programme co-ordinated by the nuclear energy agency of OECD. The research was completed in 1987. No private companies are now involved.
Wild Birds
Mr. Sims : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the United Kingdom has complied with the European Economic Community directive on the conservation of wild birds ; which other members of the Community comply with the directive ; and what steps Her Majesty's Government are taking to ensure that its terms are complied with throughout the Community.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : The directive's requirements are implemented by means of part I of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 in England, Scotland and Wales and by the Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Orders 1985 and Nature Conservation and Amenity Lands (Northern Ireland) Order 1985 in Northern Ireland.
The directive is binding on all member states of the Community and requires them to introduce their own legislation to implement the directive, and to ensure that it is applied effectively. It is the responsibility of the EC Commission to check that adequate measures have been taken, and they have shown themselves willing to use their powers to refer to European courts of justice cases where, in the Commission's view, member states have failed fully to comply with the directive.
Methane Gas Escape (Denton)
Mr. Andrew F. Bennett : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions officials of his Department have had with Tameside metropolitan borough council about the escape of methane gas at the old tip in Ruby street, Denton.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : HM inspectorate of pollution has held discussions with Tameside MBC regarding the migration of landfill gas from the closed landfill at Ruby street, Denton. Inspectors have visited the site and are keeping closely in touch with progress on remedial action.
Water Authority Land
Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many sites of special scientific interest lie wholly or partly on water authority land ; and if he will list the sites of special scientific interest and the water authorities concerned ;
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(2) how many sites of scientific interest lie wholly or partly on water authority land ;(3) if he will list the sites of scientific interest which are wholly or partly owned by the Yorkshire water authority ; (4) how many sites of special scientific interest are wholly or partly owned or administered by British statutory water companies ; and if he will list these sites of special scientific interest and the water companies concerned ;
(5) how many sites of scientific interest are wholly or partly owned or administered by British statutory water companies ; and if he will list those sites of scientific interest and the water companies concerned.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : The information about sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs) is currently being assembled by the Nature Conservancy Council. I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as it is available.
I understand that the term "sites of scientific interest" refers to non- statutory designated sites and was used mainly by the former county councils of West and South Yorkshire in the context of development plans. The information about such sites may be available from the appropriate successor local authority. It can not be provided by the Department except at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many miles of (a) statutory public footpaths, (b) statutory public bridleways and (c) permissive footpaths lie within British statutory water companies' land holdings ; and if he will list the mileage for each company in each category.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : This detailed information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Warrington and Runcorn Development Corporation
Mr. Butler : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he last met the chairman of the Warrington and Runcorn new town development corporation ; and what matters were discussed.
Mr. Trippier : I had a useful meeting with Professor Mercer on Monday 30 January. We discussed a wide range of matters, including progress towards the wind-up of the development corporation in September, housing, and progress with asset disposals in Warrington and Runcorn.
Environmental Awareness
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will place a consultancy research contract with the countryside interpretation unit, presently based at the Open university, Milton Keynes, as part of his Department's promotion of countryside environmental awareness.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : The Department of the Environment has no immediate intentions of placing a consultancy research contract with the countryside interpretation unit. Research contracts are commissioned in keeping with the Department's research priorities and on the basis of competitive tenders, unless there are special reasons for inviting a single contractor. The Department will consider proposals for research relevant to its responsibilities in line with its established contractual procedures.
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Under-used Land
Mr. Steen : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the annual cost to central and local government of preparing, publishing and updating the public registers of under-used land ; how many staff have been employed on this work ; and what is the additional number of acres which have been added to the registers, in each of the last five years.
Column 528
Mr. Trippier : The average annual cost to my Department in recent years is calculated to have been £383,000. Details of the annual cost to local government are not held centrally. Within my Department 19 full- time equivalent staff have been employed on this work. The table shows the gross and the net area added to the registers, in acres, in each of the last five calendar years :
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|1984 |1985 |1986 |1987 |1988
-------------------------------------------------------------
Area added (gross) |7,700 |10,800|6,300 |7,700 |4,800
Area removed |6,800 |12,300|12,200|15,500|10,900
Area added (net) |+900 |-1,500|-5,900|-7,800|-6,100
Mr. Steen : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many acres of under-used land currently on the public registers are in the ownership of (a) the water authorities and (b) the electricity boards ; and how many acres have been removed from the registers following the privatisation of British Gas.
Mr. Trippier : At the end of January 1989, the registers of unused and under-used land owned by public bodies contained details of 2,243 acres of such land owned by water authorities and 2,938 acres owned by electricity boards.
Following the privatisation of the former British Gas Corporation, 1,456 acres of land owned by that body were removed from the registers.
Future Bills
Mr. Steen : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to publish the next Bills on (a) local government, (b) town and country planning and (c) housing.
Mr. Ridley : The Government's Local Government and Housing Bill was published on Thursday, 2 February. There are no proposals for a Bill on town and country planning in the present Session. I cannot anticipate the contents of legislative programmes for future years.
Rating Reform
Mr. Porter : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what would on present estimates (a) a ward sister and (b) a teacher of five years experience and living in an average three bedroom terraced house in Waveney pay under (a) domestic rates, (b) community charge and (c) a combination of local income tax and capital value rates.
Mr. Gummer : A ward sister earning £13,000 living in a house in Waveney worth £60,000 and with a rateable value of £200 would pay a rates bill of £422, a community charge of £194 (disregarding the transitional safety net) and £485 under a system of capital value rates plus local income tax (LIT). A teacher on a similar salary, living in an identical property, would pay the same rates and community charge bills as the ward sister, and broadly the same capital value rates/LIT bill. In both cases the capital value rates/LIT bill would vary somewhat, depending on the taxable income of the individuals.
Mr. Burns : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of what a married couple
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with one child, and only one parent working, earning (a) £8,000 per annum living in a two bedroomed house valued at £65,000, (b) £12,000 per annum living in a three bedroomed house valued at £85,000, and (c) £18,000 per annum living in a three bedroomed house valued at £100,000, would pay in (i) a system of capital value rates plus local income tax paid in the proportions of 80 : 20 and (ii) rates if they lived in Chelmsford.Mr. Gummer [holding answer 2 February 1989] : The figures are given in the table, together with the assumptions used in each case. It has been necessary to supply assumptions about rateable value and taxable incomes.
Example C
Married couple; gross income £18,000{thin sp}; taxable income £11,000{thin sp};
capital value £100,000{thin sp}; rateable value £375{endline}
{flag}{justify}{italic}{tab}{tab}£{tab}{endline}
{/flag}{/italic}{tab}{end par}
{tab}{end par}
{tab}{endline}
{tab}Rate bill{tab}885{tab}{endline}
{tab}Community charge (no safety net){tab}{sup 1}458{tab}{endline}
{tab}Capital value rate/LIT bill{tab}920{tab}{endline}
{flag}{endline}
{sup 1}{en space}2 {multiply} £229.{endline}
{/flag}{endline}
{text}{8f heading}{centre}Sewers{endline}
{flag}Mr. Boswell{thin sp}:{/flag}To ask the Secretary of State for the
Environment what proportion of all domestic properties are served by {italic}(
a){/italic} sewers adopted under section 18 of the Public Health Act 1936,
{italic}(b){/italic} sewers connected to the mains but themselves unadopted and
{italic}(c){/italic} private sewers unconnected to the mains{thin sp}; and what
proportion of new houses fall into these several categories.{end par}
{flag}Mr. Howard{thin sp}:{/flag}More than 95 per cent. of the population of
England and Wales are connected directly or indirectly {text}{user
format}{text}
#9529
to the public sewer network. No comprehensive information is available on the
proportion of domestic properties served by sewers adopted by water authorities
under sections 17 and 18 of the Public Health Act 1936, or which remain
unadopted.{end par}
{text}{endline}
{8f heading}{centre}Water Authorities (Finance){endline}
{flag}Mrs. Ann Taylor{thin sp}:{/flag}To ask the Secretary of State for the
Environment if he will list the anticipated outstanding debt for each water
authority, expressed in sterling, for 1989-90.{end par}
{flag}Mr. Howard{thin sp}:{/flag}I expect the liabilities of the water
authorities to pass to the successor bodies under the provisions of the Water
Bill before the end of 1989. Figures for debt outstanding at the end of 1988-89
will be published in each authority{apos}s annual accounts in the usual
way.{end par}
{flag}Mrs. Ann Taylor{thin sp}:{/flag}To ask the Secretary of State for the
Environment if he will list the external finance limits for each water
authority, for the years 1986-87 to 1989-90.{end par}
{flag}Mr. Howard{thin sp}:{/flag}The information requested is set out in the
table for 1986-87, 1987-88 and 1988-89. I expect the water authorities to pass
to the successor bodies under the provisions of the Water Bill before the end
of 1989.{end par}
Example C
Married couple; gross income £18,000{thin sp}; taxable income £11,000{thin sp};
capital value £100,000{thin sp}; rateable value £375{endline}
{flag}{justify}{italic}{tab}{tab}£{tab}{endline}
{/flag}{/italic}{tab}{end par}
{tab}{end par}
{tab}{endline}
{tab}Rate bill{tab}885{tab}{endline}
{tab}Community charge (no safety net){tab}{sup 1}458{tab}{endline}
{tab}Capital value rate/LIT bill{tab}920{tab}{endline}
{flag}{endline}
{sup 1}{en space}2 {multiply} £229.{endline}
{/flag}{endline}
{text}{8f heading}{centre}Sewers{endline}
{flag}Mr. Boswell{thin sp}:{/flag}To ask the Secretary of State for the
Environment what proportion of all domestic properties are served by {italic}(
a){/italic} sewers adopted under section 18 of the Public Health Act 1936,
{italic}(b){/italic} sewers connected to the mains but themselves unadopted and
{italic}(c){/italic} private sewers unconnected to the mains{thin sp}; and what
proportion of new houses fall into these several categories.{end par}
{flag}Mr. Howard{thin sp}:{/flag}More than 95 per cent. of the population of
England and Wales are connected directly or indirectly {text}{user
format}{text}
#9529
to the public sewer network. No comprehensive information is available on the
proportion of domestic properties served by sewers adopted by water authorities
under sections 17 and 18 of the Public Health Act 1936, or which remain
unadopted.{end par}
{text}{endline}
{8f heading}{centre}Water Authorities (Finance){endline}
{flag}Mrs. Ann Taylor{thin sp}:{/flag}To ask the Secretary of State for the
Environment if he will list the anticipated outstanding debt for each water
authority, expressed in sterling, for 1989-90.{end par}
{flag}Mr. Howard{thin sp}:{/flag}I expect the liabilities of the water
authorities to pass to the successor bodies under the provisions of the Water
Bill before the end of 1989. Figures for debt outstanding at the end of 1988-89
will be published in each authority{apos}s annual accounts in the usual
way.{end par}
{flag}Mrs. Ann Taylor{thin sp}:{/flag}To ask the Secretary of State for the
Environment if he will list the external finance limits for each water
authority, for the years 1986-87 to 1989-90.{end par}
{flag}Mr. Howard{thin sp}:{/flag}The information requested is set out in the
table for 1986-87, 1987-88 and 1988-89. I expect the water authorities to pass
to the successor bodies under the provisions of the Water Bill before the end
of 1989.{end par}
Example C
Married couple; gross income £18,000{thin sp}; taxable income £11,000{thin sp};
capital value £100,000{thin sp}; rateable value £375{endline}
{flag}{justify}{italic}{tab}{tab}£{tab}{endline}
{/flag}{/italic}{tab}{end par}
{tab}{end par}
{tab}{endline}
{tab}Rate bill{tab}885{tab}{endline}
{tab}Community charge (no safety net){tab}{sup 1}458{tab}{endline}
{tab}Capital value rate/LIT bill{tab}920{tab}{endline}
{flag}{endline}
{sup 1}{en space}2 {multiply} £229.{endline}
{/flag}{endline}
{text}{8f heading}{centre}Sewers{endline}
{flag}Mr. Boswell{thin sp}:{/flag}To ask the Secretary of State for the
Environment what proportion of all domestic properties are served by {italic}(
a){/italic} sewers adopted under section 18 of the Public Health Act 1936,
{italic}(b){/italic} sewers connected to the mains but themselves unadopted and
{italic}(c){/italic} private sewers unconnected to the mains{thin sp}; and what
proportion of new houses fall into these several categories.{end par}
{flag}Mr. Howard{thin sp}:{/flag}More than 95 per cent. of the population of
England and Wales are connected directly or indirectly {text}{user
format}{text}
#9529
to the public sewer network. No comprehensive information is available on the
proportion of domestic properties served by sewers adopted by water authorities
under sections 17 and 18 of the Public Health Act 1936, or which remain
unadopted.{end par}
{text}{endline}
{8f heading}{centre}Water Authorities (Finance){endline}
{flag}Mrs. Ann Taylor{thin sp}:{/flag}To ask the Secretary of State for the
Environment if he will list the anticipated outstanding debt for each water
authority, expressed in sterling, for 1989-90.{end par}
{flag}Mr. Howard{thin sp}:{/flag}I expect the liabilities of the water
authorities to pass to the successor bodies under the provisions of the Water
Bill before the end of 1989. Figures for debt outstanding at the end of 1988-89
will be published in each authority{apos}s annual accounts in the usual
way.{end par}
{flag}Mrs. Ann Taylor{thin sp}:{/flag}To ask the Secretary of State for the
Environment if he will list the external finance limits for each water
authority, for the years 1986-87 to 1989-90.{end par}
{flag}Mr. Howard{thin sp}:{/flag}The information requested is set out in the
table for 1986-87, 1987-88 and 1988-89. I expect the water authorities to pass
to the successor bodies under the provisions of the Water Bill before the end
of 1989.{end par}
Sewers
Mr. Boswell : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion of all domestic properties are served by (a) sewers adopted under section 18 of the Public Health Act 1936, (b) sewers connected to the mains but themselves unadopted and (c) private sewers unconnected to the mains ; and what proportion of new houses fall into these several categories.
Mr. Howard : More than 95 per cent. of the population of England and Wales are connected directly or indirectly
Column 529
to the public sewer network. No comprehensive information is available on the proportion of domestic properties served by sewers adopted by water authorities under sections 17 and 18 of the Public Health Act 1936, or which remain unadopted.Water Authorities (Finance)
Mrs. Ann Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the anticipated outstanding debt for each water authority, expressed in sterling, for 1989-90.
Mr. Howard : I expect the liabilities of the water authorities to pass to the successor bodies under the provisions of the Water Bill before the end of 1989. Figures for debt outstanding at the end of 1988-89 will be published in each authority's annual accounts in the usual way.
Mrs. Ann Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the external finance limits for each water authority, for the years 1986-87 to 1989-90.
Mr. Howard : The information requested is set out in the table for 1986-87, 1987-88 and 1988-89. I expect the water authorities to pass to the successor bodies under the provisions of the Water Bill before the end of 1989.
Authority |1986-87 |1987-88 |1988-89 ----------------------------------------------------- Anglian |45.7 |36.0 |23.5 Northumbrian |18.0 |-1.0 |4.0 North West |58.0 |60.2 |54.0 Severn Trent |7.9 |-2.4 |-16.5 Southern |2.2 |-5.0 |-13.5 South West |4.7 |1.0 |1.0 Thames |-82.0 |-95.0 |-95.0 Wessex |26.8 |13.0 |25.0 Yorkshire |25.8 |21.5 |15.0
External finance limits for the Welsh water authorities are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.
Rate Support Grant (Cambridgeshire)
Mr. Paice : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the total rate support grant to Cambridgeshire for each year from 1983-84 to 1989-90 ; and what it would have been if total expenditure had not exceeded Government targets in those years when that occurred.
Mr. Gummer : The table shows the latest figures for total rate support grant payable to authorities in Cambridgeshire for each year from 1983-84 to 1989-90.
In 1984-85 the grant of Cambridgeshire county council was abated by £4.152 million because its total expenditure exceeded Government targets. In 1983-84 Peterborough's grant was abated by less than £500.
Rate support grant payable to
authorities in Cambridgeshire
under latest supplementary
report and 1989-90 settlement
report
|£ million
------------------------------
1983-84 |93.665
1984-85 |92.883
1985-86 |87.556
1986-87 |83.195
1987-88 |84.693
1988-89 |78.166
1989-90 |72.219
Waste Regulations
Mr. Battle : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he proposes to introduce legislation to strengthen waste regulatory controls.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley [holding answer 2 February 1989] : Legislation will be introduced as soon as possible based on the Government's announcement of 29 June 1988 and the results of consultation exercises announced on 23 November and 24 January. Copies of the consultation papers have been placed in the Library of the House.
Inner City Programmes
Mr. Wray : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Banbury (Mr. Baldry) of 30 January, Official Report, columns 24-28, which are the inner cities programmes his Department is carrying out ; what non-government organisations are taking part in such programmes ; where each of these programmes is operating ; and on what date each one was started.
Mr. Trippier : My Department's principal inner city programmes are described in the publication "DoE Inner City Programmes, 1987-88", which also gives an account of their achievements and development and contains a map of the areas in which they are operating. These programmes and the years of their inception are : urban development corporations (1981), grants for urban development (1982--now subsumed in city grant which started last year), the urban programme (1969), derelict land grant (1981 in its present form), enterprise zones (1981) and land registers (1981).
A large number of non-governmental organisations are making use of these programmes and it would not be practicable to list them.
TRANSPORT
Judicial Review
Mr. Baldry : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will set out for the last 10 years (a) the number of decisions relating to motorway and other major infrastructure projects made by the Secretary of State for Transport that have been referred for judicial review, (b) in how many instances the High Court has found against the Secretary of State and, (c) in those cases where the High Court dismissed an application for judicial review, what was the cost to his Department of defending the action and his estimate of the length of delay caused to the project by such applications.
Mr. Peter Bottomley : In the last 10 years 16 orders made by the Secretary of State for Transport on motorway and major road projects have been challenged in the High Court. No orders made by the Secretary of State have been referred for judicial review. Two of the challenges were successful.
We do not have details of the costs incurred in defending these cases. On all those where the application was dismissed, costs were awarded against the appellant.
Delay to the projects varied from nil to four years depending on the particular circumstances in each case.
Column 531
Driver Information Systems
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what were his reasons for proposing the direct licensing of personal data contained within driver information systems, as outlined in part II of the Road Traffic (Driver Licensing and Information Systems) Bill ; and how these proposals relate to the provisions of the Data Protection Act.
Mr. Peter Bottomley : The possible licence condition at clause 10(8)(f) of the Bill would enable the Secretary of State to require an operator of a driver information system to provide him with information from the system and to authorise him to make it available to others. This provision reflects the fact that the autoguide system will generate information on the speeds and journey times of autoguide-equipped vehicles. Such information could be of value to the Department and other highway authorities in developing traffic management strategies.
It is not our intention that part II of the Bill should provide for the licensing of personal data or that it should override any part of the Data Protection Act.
If any amendments are necessary to place that beyond doubt, we shall bring them forward.
Road Traffic Discs
Mr. McTaggart : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many road tax discs are lost or stolen each year ; and if he has any plans to seek to introduce legislation to deter theft of tax discs.
Mr. Peter Bottomley : On the basis of subsequent applications for refunds or duplicates, very roughly 150,000 licence discs--about 0.5 per cent. of licences issued--are lost or stolen each year. Theft of licence discs is a crime. There is no need for further legislation.
Mr. McTaggart : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research has been carried out on theft-proof alternatives to the road tax disc ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Peter Bottomley : The vehicle excise licence disc includes a number of security features which make it difficult to forge or fraudulently alter, and thus make it unattractive to thieves. Research continues into the possibility of making licences more difficult to remove from vehicle windscreens without affecting the security and other design features. They often need to be removed legitimately for refunds.
Various high-technology alternatives to tax discs have been examined. So far none of them is as cost effective as the present system.
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