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Column 675

Written Answers to Questions

Friday 4 May 1990

ENVIRONMENT

Wild Birds

Ms. Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the reply the Minister for the Environment and Countryside promised to the hon. Member for Liverpool, Mossley Hill (Mr. Alton) on 15 February, Official Report, column 409.

Mr. Trippier : Copies of my letter were placed in the Library today.

Returnable Containers

Mr. Pawsey : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action is being considered by his Department to encourage the use of returnable containers especially with regard to those made from glass and plastic.

Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : The Environmental Protection Bill will require every local authority involved in waste collection or disposal to make plans that will give priority to the recovery of containers for reuse and recycling wherever practicable. Different systems of recovery will be appropriate in different areas, but it is our intention to review all systems in preparing the White Paper on the environment and we hope to publish guidance for local authorities to assist them in their choice of method. In doing so we shall take account of all the environmental implications, including storage, energy and transport costs, when comparing the use of returnable containers with those that can more easily be recycled.

River Pollution

Mr. David Nicholson : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has had from the National Rivers Authority over the funding of its monitoring of pollution discharges ; what response he has made ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 24 April to my hon. Friend the Member for Pembroke (Mr. Bennett), at column 121.

Nitrates

Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the cost of the implementation of the European Community rules for nitrates in surface waters on British farms.

Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : The European Commission has not published a compliance cost assessment for the proposed directive on nitrates. Without this it is difficult at present to assess the implementation costs for British farms.

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Column 676

Water Metering

Mr. O'Brien : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects the additional progress report on the national water meter trials to be available in the Library.

Mr. Barry Field : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to receive the report on the national water metering trials ; and when he expects to publish it.

Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : I understand that the national water metering trials co-ordinating committee intends to publish a second interim report towards the end of June. A copy of the report will be placed in the Library.

Pollution Report No. 28

Mr. Quentin Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to publish the Department of the Environment pollution report No. 28.

Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : Pollution report No. 28, "UK Blood Lead Monitoring Programme 1984-1987 : Results for 1987", was published today and a copy of the report has been placed in the House of Commons Library.

The report shows the detailed results of a programme of monitoring carried out by the Department of the Environment, in conjunction with local authorities, health authorities and police forces. Summary results were published in the Department's "Digest of Environmental Protection and Water Statistics" No. 11 in February 1989.

Local Government Finance

Dr. Cunningham : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list all those Acts of Parliament since 1979 which have a direct application to local government, indicating those which are concerned with local government finance.

Mr. David Hunt [holding answer 1 May 1990] : Public general Acts of Parliament between June 1979 and the end of the last Session of Parliament which affect local authorities in England include : Education Act 1979

Justices of the Peace Act 1979

Representation of the People Act 1980

Child Care Act 1980

Foster Children Act 1980

Residential Homes Act 1980

Police Negotiating Board Act 1980

Education Act 1980

Transport Act 1980

Coroners Act 1980

Magistrates Courts Act 1980

Housing Act 1980

Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980

Highways Act 1980

European Assembly Elections Act 1981

Water Act 1981

Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981

Disused Burial Grounds (Amendment) Act 1981

Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1981

Animal Health Act 1981

Food and Drugs (Amendment) Act 1981

Fisheries Act 1981

Representation of the People Act 1981

Town and Country Planning (Minerals) Act 1981

Zoo Licensing Act 1981

Local Government and Planning (Amendment) Act 1981

Education Act 1981

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Column 677

New Towns Act 1981

Compulsory Purchase (Vesting Declarations) Act 1981

Acquisition of Land Act 1981

Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981

Travel Concessions (London) Act 1982

Fire Service College Board (Abolition) Act 1982

Children's Homes Act 1982

Planning Inquiries (Attendance of the Public) Act 1982

Social Security and Housing Benefits Act 1982

Food and Drugs (Amendment) Act 1982

Local Govenment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982

Local Government Finance Act 1982

Derelict Land Act 1982

Representation of the People Act 1983

Water Act 1983

Level Crossings Act 1983

Miscellaneous Financial Provisions Act 1983

Mobile Homes Act 1983

Litter Act 1983

Social Security and Housing Benefits Act 1983

Education (Fees and Awards) Act 1983

Health and Social Services and Social Security Adjudications Act 1983

Local Authorities (Expenditure Powers) Act 1983

Town and Country Planning Act 1984

Education (Grants and Awards) Act 1984

Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984

Registered Homes Act 1984

Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984

Housing and Building Control Act 1984

Food Act 1984

London Regional Transport Act 1984

Rates Act 1984

Cycle Tracks Act 1984

Animal Health and Welfare Act 1984

Housing Defects Act 1984

Local Government (Interim Provisions) Act 1984

Building Act 1984

New Towns and Urban Development Corporations Act 1985

London Regional Transport (Amendment) Act 1985

Mineral Workings Act 1985

Cinemas Act 1985

Town and Country Planning (Compensation) Act 1985

Wildlife and Countryside (Amendment) Act 1985

Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985

Charter Trustees Act 1985

Further Education Act 1985

Food and Environment Protection Act 1985

Representation of the People Act 1985

Local Government Act 1985

Town and Country Planning (Amendment) Act 1985

Wildlife and Countryside (Service of Notices) Act 1985

Child Abduction and Custody Act 1985

Transport Act 1985

Housing Act 1985

Housing (Consequential Provisions) Act 1985

Housing Associations Act 1985

Weights and Measures Act 1985

Education (Amendment) Act 1986

Museum of London Act 1986

Local Government Act 1986

Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1986

Highways (Amendment) Act 1986

Drainage Rates (Disabled Persons) Act 1986

Civil Protection in Peacetime Act 1986

Health Service Joint Consultative Committees (Access to Information) Act 1986

Road Traffic Regulation (Parking) Act 1986

Children and Young Persons (Amendment) Act 1986

Airports Act 1986

Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986

Education Act 1986

Rate Support Grants Act 1986

Education (No. 2) Act 1986

Housing and Planning Act 1986

Public Order Act 1986

Teachers' Pay and Conditions Act 1987

Rate Support Grants Act 1987

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