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Mr. Trippier : The Government are considering what further action to take to ensure compliance with EC directives 75/439, 75/442 and 87/101 regarding the disposal of waste oils. Most large industrial plants burning waste oils are already controlled by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution (HMIP) under the Alkali etc. Works Regulation Act 1906 and the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. It is intended that waste oil burning will be included in processes listed in regulations made under the Environmental Protection Bill, when enacted, for part I control. The Government will also take steps to make the public aware of the need to dispose of waste oils in an environmentally responsible way.

Mr. Gareth Wardell : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to introduce legislation specifically concerning disposal of poly-chlorinated biphenyls and polychlorinated triphenyls.


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Mr. Trippier : The disposal of waste PCBs and PCTs is subject to the general legislation on the disposal of toxic waste. The storage and landfilling of waste PCBs/PCTs comes under the licensing system of the Control of Pollution Act 1974 and their incineration under the registration system of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and the Alkali etc. Works Regulations Act 1906. It is intended that storage and landfilling will come under the revised licensing system and chemical incineration under the integrated pollution control system to be established under the Environmental Protection Bill.

Mr. Gareth Wardell : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to introduce legislation to require that the total polychlorinated biphenyl and halogen content of waste oils has to be recorded.

Mr Trippier : Under the Control of Pollution (Special Waste) Regulations 1980, the PCB and halogen concentration of waste oils which are special wastes is stated on the consignment note which is raised when the waste is moved from the premises where it is produced. Copies of these consignment notes are kept on registers held by producers, carriers and waste disposal licence holders. The PCB and halogen content of waste oil, which brings it within the definition of special waste, is one of the matters covered in our proposals for revising the Special Waste Regulations which I shall announce shortly.

Mr. Gareth Wardell : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to introduce legislation whereby a subsidy is paid to operators exchanging or retrofilling equipment containing polychlorinated biphenyls or polychlorinated triphenyls.

Mr. Trippier : No. Paying subsidies would be contrary to the polluter pays principle.

Cleaning Products

Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to ban the use of (a) nitro-tri-acetic acid, (b) ethylene diamino-tetra-acetic acid, (c) perborate bleach, (d) optical brighteners and (e) enzymes in cleaning products.

Mr. Trippier : The Department has no plans to ban the use of these chemicals in cleaning products.

Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to limit the amount of (a) phosphates, (b) chlorine bleaches and (c) ethlylene diamino-tetra-acetic acid used in cleaning products ; if he intends to limit the acidity of toilet cleaners ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Trippier : The Department has no plans at present to limit the amounts of these constituents in cleaning products but is planning to place a study contract to review any adverse effects which may occur if polyphosphates used in cleaning agents are replaced by other chemicals.

Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to require an increase in the biodegradability of anionic and non-ionic surfactants.

Mr. Trippier : The Department has no plans to require an increase in the biodegradability of anionic and non-ionic surfactants.


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Richmond Metal Company

Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has obtained a report from Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution and the Health and Safety Executive on how a bar of uranium came to be on the premises of the Richmond Metal Company ; what action has been taken ; whether any breaches of security were involved ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Trippier : Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution and the Health and Safety Executive have carried out an extensive investigation into how the small bar of uranium came to be on the premises of the Richmond Metal Company. They have concluded that it arrived in a large batch of mixed scrap metal. The origin of the bar has not yet been established and this may prove difficult in view of the nature of scrap metal operations. Investigations are continuing and arrangements have been made to dispose of the uranium bar. There is no evidence of any breach of security.

Radioactive Waste Disposal

Ms. Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will make a statement on the findings of the European Commission's PAGIS study into the suitability of British geology for high-level radioactive waste disposal ;

(2) what account he will take of the European Commission's PAGIS study findings in determining Government policy on the disposal of high-level radioactive waste in Britain ;

(3) how his Department intends to use the findings of the European Commission's PAGIS assessment of the suitability of British geology for high-level radioactive waste disposal.

Mr. Trippier : PAGIS--performance assessment of geological isolation systems--a six-year multinational research project on the safety assessment of high-level radioactive waste disposal, was launched in 1982 as part of the Community plan of action in the field of radioactive waste management. Reports of the PAGIS project have been published by the European Commission. The results indicate that vitrified high-level radioactive waste could be disposed of safely in a variety of geological formations. PAGIS reinforces Government policy on the management of high-level radioactive waste and due account will be taken of the methodology and results when considering its eventual disposal.

Ms. Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what contribution his Department made to the European Commission's PAGIS study into the suitability of British geology for high-level radioactive waste disposal.

Mr. Trippier : My Department was represented on the PAGIS steering committee.

Cyclists

Mr. Alton : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many personal journeys are made in the United Kingdom each year ; and if he will initiate research to estimate gains to be made in vehicle pollution abatement by a ten fold expansion of cycling in the United Kingdom.


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Mr. Trippier : "Transport Statistics Great Britain, 1978-88" (HMSO, September 1989) includes tables showing the

passenger/kilometres travelled using the main modes of transport, and journeys per person per week. No research is planned to estimate gains in vehicle pollution abatement following from an expansion of cycling.

Toxic Wastes (West Yorkshire)

Mr. O'Brien : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what areas in west Yorkshire were involved in the study undertaken by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution on toxic wastes ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Trippier : Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution's recent technical report "Determination of Polychlorinated biphenyls, Polychlorinated Dibenzo-p-dioxins and Polychlorinated Dibenzofurans in United Kingdom Soils" report levels of PCB, PCDD and PCDF contamination at specific points on a regular 50 km grid across most of the United Kingdom.

The report lists the grid references of all the sampling locations. Copies of the report have been placed in the Library of the House.

Mr. O'Brien : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the areas in west Yorkshire where toxic wastes have been found ; and if he will identify the so-called hot spots.

Mr. Trippier : Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution's recent technical report "Determination of Polychlorinated biphenyls, Polychlorinated Dibenzo-p-dioxins and Polychlorinated Dibenzofurans in United Kingdom Soils" reported levels of PCB, PCDD and PCDF contamination at specific points on a regular 50 km grid across most of the United Kingdom.

The study was aimed at identifying the range of contamination levels of these chemicals in United Kingdom soils. There was no intention, in this study, to identify areas of abnormally high contamination (hot spots).

The report lists the grid references of all the sampling locations. Copies of the report have been placed in the Library of the House.

Mr. O'Brien : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the result of the soil samples taken from refuse tips in west Yorkshire ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Trippier : Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution's recent technical report "Determination of Polychlorinated biphenyls, Polychlorinated Dibenzo-p-dioxins and Polychlorinated Dibenzofurans in United Kingdom Soils" reported levels of PCB, PCDD and PCDF contamination at specific points on a regular 50 km grid. Copies have been placed in the Library.

The study was aimed at identifying the range of contamination levels of these chemicals in United Kingdom soils. No refuse landfill sites were knowingly sampled in west Yorkshire or elsewhere in the United Kingdom.

Romania

Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to increase the United Kingdom contribution to the east European


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programme of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature to provide assistance in improving the ecological situation in Romania.

Mr. Trippier : My Department has recently announced a contribution of £50,000 towards the east European programme of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. It is a matter for the IUCN to decide how much of this programme should be devoted to assisting Romania.

Rateable Values (Chelmsford)

Mr. Burns : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment as a result of the recent revaluation, what percentage of businesses in the Chelmsford parliamentary constituency area have had their rateable value (a) cut, (b) increased by 1 to 10 per cent., (c) increased by 11 to 20 per cent., (d) increased by 21 to 30 per cent., (e) increased by 31 to 50 per cent., (f) increased by 51 to 100 per cent., (g) increased by over 100 per cent., (h) increased by over 150 per cent., and (i) increased by over 200 per cent., and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Chope : The information for which my hon. Friend asks is not available.

Hospital Incinerators

Mr. Gareth Wardell : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will specify the date when Crown immunity will be removed from all hospital incinerators.

Mr. Trippier : Crown immunity for hospital incinerators with a capacity of over 1 tonne an hour was lifted in March 1989 as a result of the Health and Safety (Emissions into the Atmosphere) (Amendment) Regulations 1989. Clause 54 of the National Health Service and Community Care Bill provides for a widespread removal of Crown immunity from National Health Service premises. This will cover all National Health Service incinerators. The provision will be brought into effect by commencement order at the earliest opportunity.

Radioactive Substances

Mr. Wallace : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment from which persons and bodies he has received responses to the consultation paper on the control of radioactive substances.

Mr. Trippier : I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Shrewsbury and Atcham (Mr. Conway) on 6 December, Official Report, column 217.

Mr. Wallace : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what further steps he proposes to take to control radioactive substances ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Trippier : The improvements we intend to make to the control of radioactive substances under the Radioactive Substances Act 1960 were set out in a consultation document, a copy of which has been placed in the Library, and are incorporated in the Environmental Protection Bill now before the House.

Mr. Wallace : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether his Department has had regard to


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the new ionising regulations in the United States based on proposals by the National Academy of Sciences in drawing up proposals for the control of radioactive substances in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Trippier : The Radioactive Substances Act 1960 provides a comprehensive framework for controlling the keeping, use, accumulation and disposal of radioactive substances. We take into account legislation in other countries in amending United Kingdom legislation where appropriate.

Urban Programme

Mr. Riddick : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what resources will be available for local authorities in the urban programme in 1990-91 ; and whether he will make a statement.

Mr. David Hunt : I am today announcing initial urban programme resource allocations for 1990-91, totalling over £258 million, an increase of £13 million over last year. The resources will be allocated to the 57 urban programme partnership and programme authorities. The money will be used to support a wide range of projects aimed at stimulating economic recovery, improving the environment and helping people to deal with social problems in urban areas.

The urban programme encourages local authorities, in partnership with Government, to help revitalise our inner cities. It is a key part of the Government's Action for Cities programme, which includes the Department of the Environment's other urban initiatives--urban development corporations, city grant and derelict land grant. Together, these Department of the Environment programmes will provide £920 million for inner city regeneration in 1990-91.

The urban programme allocations made today, some three weeks earlier than last year, are provisional : formal allocations are made after inner area programmes (IAPs) have been assessed and approved. Allocations will not be confirmed until authorities have provided a satisfactory annual report on achievements through the UP in 1988-89. Redistribution of resources can sometimes occur within the course of the year which may lead to outturn being different from the initial allocations.

Copies of the allocations to individual authorities have been placed in the Library.

Soil Contamination

Mr. Malcolm Bruce : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment his Department has made of soil contamination with polychlorinated biphenyls throughout Britain.

Mr. Trippier [holding answer 16 January 1990] : Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution's recent report "Determination of Polychlorinated Biphenyls, Polychlorinated Dibenzo-p-dioxins and Polychlorinated Dibenzofurans in UK Soils" contained details of the levels of PCBs found in soils in England, Wales and part of Scotland. The results show that PCBs are ubiquitous in soils, although the levels vary, being higher where there is a history of heavy industry and urbanisation. Copies have been placed in the Library of the House.

Mr. Malcolm Bruce : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give details of soil


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contamination throughout Britain from polychlorinated bi-phenyls, contamination from factory chimneys and the burning of plastic wastes in municipal incinerators.

Mr. Trippier [holding answer 15 January 1990] : Details of PCB contamination of soils throughout Britain are given in the report by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution "Determination of Polychlorinated Biphenyls, Polychlorinated Dibenzo-p-dioxins and Polychlorinated Dibenzofurans in UK Soils" published by HMSO, copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House. The use of PCBs is severely restricted by the Control of Pollution (Supply and Use of Injurious Substances) Regulations 1986. Thus they are not likely to be found in emissions from factory chimneys or to arise from the burning of plastic wastes in municipal incinerators.

Landfill Sites

Mr. Malcolm Bruce : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the location of sites where landfill gases have been identified as a potential problem.

Mr. Heathcoat-Amory [holding answer 15 January 1990] : Reliable and complete information on sites where landfill gas has been identified as a potential problem is not held centrally. Waste disposal authorities can advise about specific sites in their area.

Mr. Malcolm Bruce : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give details of the sites, where landfill gases are a potential problem, that are located within 250m of housing.

Mr. Heathcoat-Amory [holding answer 15 January 1990] : This information is not held centrally. Waste disposal authorities provide information to local planning authorities where development is proposed within 250m of a landfill site.

Pollution Inspectorate

Mr. Malcolm Bruce : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will ensure that all future soil samples from the area around the Rechem incinerator at Pontypool required to be taken by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution are collected by persons in the direct employ of Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution.

Mr. Trippier [holding answer 15 January 1990] : It is for Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution to determine the most effective use of its resources and, in part, this will mean deciding on the most appropriate way to obtain samples in particular areas.

Single Homeless People

Mr Galloway : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will publish figures for the number of single homeless people for each year from 1979 to 1989 ;

(2) how many single homeless people he estimates there are under the age of 25 years currently in England ;

(3) if he will publish the figures for the number of single homeless people in (a) Birmingham, (b) Cardiff, (c) Edinburgh, (d) Liverpool and (e) London during each year from 1979 to 1989.

Mr. Chope [holding answer 15 January 1990] : Local authorities report the number of households for whom


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they accept responsibility to secure accommodation under the homelessness provisions of the Housing Acts ; the single homeless are not separately identified and my Department has no estimates. For information about Wales and Scotland I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Wales and Scotland.

Housing Associations

Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on the Stonefrost inquiry report into the future of housing associations' development in central London.

Mr. Chope [holding answer 15 January 1990] : I was pleased to note the report's acknowledgement of the value of work carried out by London housing associations, and the part played in this by private finance. Since the inquiry was concluded, we have announced our decision to move over the next two years to a regional distribution of the Housing Corporation's capital investment programme based on the housing needs indicator, an objective measure of the relative need for investment by housing associations in different areas which was fully reviewed last year by my Department, the Housing Corporation and the National Federation of Housing Associations. As a result housing associations in London and the south-east will receive significantly higher levels of resources to help them continue their important work in providing homes for people in housing need.

Homelessness

Mrs. Gorman : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent representations he has received regarding homelessness.

Mr. Chope [holding answer 15 January 1990] : Following publication last November of our review of the homelessness legislation, we have received comments from a range of public and voluntary bodies.

Water Pollution

Dr. Kim Howells : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will ensure that the general public has immediate and free access to the regional registers of water pollution levels.

Mr. Heathcoat-Amery : Information on water quality and pollution is contained in the registers maintained by the National Rivers Authority in accordance with its duties under section 117 of the Water Act 1989. The public has free access to these registers at the authority's regional offices during normal working hours.

Bathing Waters

Mr. John Garrett : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which of the beaches awarded blue flag safe bathing symbols were tested for, and failed the European Economic Community standards for coliforms, entero-viruses and salmonella.

Mr. Trippier [holding answer 15 January 1990] : The results of the 1988 survey of bathing waters were placed in the Library on 21 February 1989. These included details of tests for coliforms, enteroviruses and salmonella. The award of blue flags for 1989 was announced on 5 June 1989 by the organisers of the blue flag campaign.


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TRANSPORT

Public Transport

Mr. Ashley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department is taking to implement the recommendations in the report "Public Transport and the Missing Six Million--What Can Be Learned?"

Mr. Atkins : My Department is working closely with the disabled persons transpot advisory committee in following up the recommendations.

Motor Vehicle Accidents

Mr. Burns : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the number of motor vehicle accidents, excluding motor cycles, in each of the last five years involving fatalities and non-fatalities in England and Wales.

Mr. Atkins : Information is only available for road accidents which involve personal injury. The information requested is as follows :


Motor vehicle accidents, excluding motor cycles   

England and Wales, 1984-1988                      

          |Fatal    |Non-fatal|Total              

--------------------------------------------------

1984      |3,470    |166,431  |169,901            

1985      |3,309    |165,629  |168,938            

1986      |3,527    |172,405  |175,932            

1987      |3,390    |171,024  |174,414            

1988      |3,427    |181,160  |184,587            

This table, as requested, counts accidents and not vehicles, and excludes all those accidents involving motor cycles including, for example, an accident involving car and motor cycle.

Mr. Burns : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the number of motor vehicle accidents, excluding motor cycles, in each of the last five years involving drivers who had passed their test in the previous 12 months in England and Wales.

Mr. Atkins : The information requested is not available ; licence details of drivers involved in accidents are not recorded on the accident report form.

Car Drivers

Mr. Burns : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the number of people who are currently permitted to drive a car in England and Wales.

Mr. Atkins : Over 28 million people in Great Britain have full licences to drive motor cars. There are no separate figures for England and Wales.

Driving Tests

Mr. Burns : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the number of people who have passed a driving test to drive a car in each of the last five years ; and if he will specify what proportion of those people were aged (a) 17 to 25 years, (b) 26 to 40 years, (c) 41 to 60 years and (d) over 60 years.

Mr. Atkins : Statistics in this form are available only from 1985. Those for 1989 have not yet been completed. Figures for 1985-1988 are as follows :--


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Year           Tests         Proportion in age-group: per cent.                                   

              |passed (cars)|17-25        |26-40        |41-60        |Over 60                    

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1985          |863,339      |71.6         |22.9         |5.1          |0.4                        

1986          |941,005      |75.6         |19.7         |4.4          |0.3                        

1987          |958,087      |74.2         |20.8         |4.7          |0.3                        

1988          |1,039,461    |73.5         |21.3         |4.9          |0.3                        

A38 Trunk Road

Mr. Robert Hicks : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his Department's preferred line of route for the A38 trunk road improvement Liskeard to Bodmin section.

Mr. Atkins : As I informed my hon. Friend in my reply of 4 December, at column 95, I hope to announce the Department's preferred route early in 1991.

Mr. Robert Hicks : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he hopes to announce the consulting engineers to examine possible alternative routes for the A38 trunk road improvement, Saltash to Trevulefoot section.

Mr. Atkins : I hope to announce the appointment of consulting engineers within the next few weeks.

Mersey Ferries

Mr. Wareing : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received in respect of the funding of the Mersey Ferries ; if he will consider giving direct financial aid ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. McLoughlin : The director general of the Merseyside passenger transport executive wrote to the Department of Transport on 21 July and 31 August 1989 with details of a project for developing the Mersey Ferries as a leisure facility, and the passenger transport authority also asked for this project to be taken into account in the determination of its annual capital guideline. The Department replied to the PTE on 9 October raising various questions on the project. We have received no representations since then. We would consider any application for direct financial assistance on its merits, in accordance with our normal criteria for grant for public transport projects.

Mark Woodward

Mr. Speller : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a further statement on what was done with the Coastguard and British Telecom tapes of calls relating to the accidental drowning of Mark Woodward on 16 August 1989, following the coroner's inquest.

Mr. McLoughlin : The multi-track tapes that recalled the content and timing of all telephone and radio messages to and from Coastguard stations were wiped clean one month after the coroner's inquest. Up to this time these tapes would have been available for examination should this have been requested. For the benefit of the inquest certain extracts of the tapes were taken, in cassette form, and these are currently held by the police, following their inquiry. These tapes will be returned to the Department's solicitor shortly and will be made available to interested parties. But also it should be noted that in cassette form the content is incomplete and cannot be linked to accurate time. The question of the British Telecom tapes is one which should be addressed to BT in the north Devon area.


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