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taken to recruit additional, of and redeploy existing staff to clear the backlog of reviews by, amongst other things, the setting up of four additional processing units.Mr. Vauvert has clearly not received the standard of service which he has every right to expect from the Agency and I offer my sincere apologies to him for any distress and inconvenience caused by the delays.
I hope that you find this reply helpful and I thank you for the opportunity to explain this matter. A copy will appear in the Official Report and a copy will also be placed in the Library.
ENVIRONMENT
Energy Policy
Ms. Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to delay the MPG 3 review until after the House has debated the recommendations in the first report from the Trade and Industry Select Committee 1992-93 (HC 237) on British energy policy and the market for coal, in so far as they relate to open cast coal mining.
Mr. Baldry : My Department intends to issue draft revised guidance for public consultation as soon as possible following the outcome of the coal review. We shall give careful consideration to the recommendations of the Trade and Industry Select Committee in preparing the draft guidelines and before the guidelines are finalised we will take into account the outcome of debates and all other representations we receive during the public consultation period.
Market Testing
Mr. McAllion : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list all the market tests that have taken place in his Department since November 1991 ; whether the result was the maintenance of in-house provision or whether the service was contracted out ; what was the name of the successful contractor where appropriate ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Howard : None of the projects in my Department's market testing programme which involves exposing in-house functions to competition has yet reached the stage where a contract or service level agreement has been awarded.
Mr. McAllion : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many staff in his Department are assigned to the market testing programme ; how much the programme has cost his Department since November 1991 ; and if he will make a statement.
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Mr. Howard : There are six staff in my Department directly assigned to the market testing programme.
From November 1991 to end December 1992, the total cost of the programme amounted to £650,480.
Radioactive Waste
Mr. Dafis : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the compliance of the current application by British Nuclear Fuels for a revision of its authorisation to discharge radioactive waste from its Sellafield site with clauses on the justification of the production of radioactive waste within the 1986 White Paper on radioactive waste.
Mr. Maclean : This is a matter for the chief inspector of Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution and the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, who have recently completed the statutory public consultation exercise into BNFL's applications. Following consideration of the numerous responses received by HMIP, they will be submitting their consultation response document to the Secretary of State and the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food for consideration.
Noise Monitoring
Mr. Dafis : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps have been taken by his Department towards developing a co-ordinated noise level monitoring database for the United Kingdom.
Mr. Maclean : None. However, we have recently completed the national noise incidence study which involved noise measurements being made outside 1,000 homes in England and Wales during 1990 and has provided a benchmark on how noisy the country is. The results of the study will be published later this year.
Thermal Oxide Reprocessing Plant, Sellafield
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to receive the report from Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution on the consultation exercise conducted by the inspectorate on British Nuclear Fuels' application for discharge authorisations for the thermal oxide reprocessing plant and associated plants.
Mr. Maclean : HMIP and Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food currently expect to submit their report on the consultation exercise by the beginning of April 1993.
Landfill Gas Flares
Ms. Short : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has about air pollution from landfill gas flares ; what techniques are available to reduce emissions ; and whether he will make gas flares subject to local authority air pollution control.
Mr. Maclean : Flaring of landfill gas serves to destroy the flammable components of the inlet landfill gas and reduce the trace components which are responsible for odour problems. Carbon dioxide would constitute the bulk component of flared gas since methane is a flammable gas. However, in order to have a better understanding of emissions from flare systems, my Department has
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commissioned the Environmental Safety centre at Harwell laboratory to carry out research on the fate of landfill gas components when flared, to compare the potential environmental impact of both source and flared landfill gas, and provide technical recommendations on the key design factors in flare systems to ensure complete combustion. The final report is expected this year.Pollution control legislation applies through the provisions of the Control of Pollution Act 1974 under which a landfill site requires to be licensed before operations can commence. The most recent advice on appropriate requirements for flare stacks is contained in chapter 8 of the Department's "Waste Management Paper No. 27". Since emissions are controlled through the waste disposal licence, it is not necessary for flares to be additionally controlled under the air pollution legislation.
EC Environmental Action Programme
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what resource commitment was agreed by the Council of Ministers in support of the European Commission's fifth environmental action programme.
Mr. Maclean : The Council has agreed a commitment of 13 million ecu (£10.4 million) to support environmental action including the fifth action programme.
Methane Emissions
Ms. Short : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion, in carbon dioxide equivalent, of the United Kingdom's contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions arises from methane emissions ; and whether he plans to introduce a strategy to reduce emissions of methane gas.
Mr. Maclean : The most recent edition of the "Digest of Environmental Protection and Water Statistics" estimates United Kingdom methane emissions in 1990 at 4.371 million tonnes. The direct global warming effect of these emissions is estimated at around 7 per cent. of that of United Kingdom emissions of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide. Indirect effects add to methane's relative contribution ; the intergovernmental panel on climate change estimates that these could be of similar magnitude to the direct effect. The estimate of United Kingdom methane emissions is currently under review.
The UN framework convention on climate change requires developed country parties to draw up a programme of measures aimed at returning emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, including methane, to their 1990 levels by 2000. We are aiming to produce the United Kingdom's first national programme under the convention by the end of this year.
Emissions
Ms. Short : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how he expects the introduction of new vehicle emission standards to influence emissions of oxides of nitrogen from road vehicles over the next 30 years ; and what projections he has commissioned to demonstrate the possible effects.
Mr. Maclean : The introduction of three-way catalytic converters, now required on all new petrol-engined cars, should lead to a significant decrease in NOx emissions over the next 10 years.
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Projections by Warren Spring laboratory to 2010 were published in September 1992 in the report "Pollution in the Atmosphere : Future Emissions from the UK". I am arranging for a copy to be placed in the Library of the House. They suggest a fall in NOx emissions from road transport of between 30 per cent. and 36 per cent. by 2010 compared with 1991.Mr. Raynsford : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table showing the total estimated emissions of oxides of nitrogen in the United Kingdom in each year since 1980.
Mr. Maclean : Estimated emissions of oxides of nitrogen (NO‡x) in the United Kingdom since 1980, as reported in my Department's 1991 Digest of Environmental Protection and Water Statistics, and are as follows :
|NO‡x Emission
|(thousands tonnes)
---------------------------------------------------------
1980 |2,312
1981 |2,242
1982 |2,221
1983 |2,234
1984 |2,216
1985 |2,327
1986 |2,416
1987 |2,544
1988 |2,626
1989 |2,717
1990 |2,729
Eco-labelling
Mr. Barry Field : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those EC member states that have indicated they will continue with national eco-labelling.
Mr. Maclean : I understand that France, Germany and the Netherlands are currently continuing with national eco-labelling schemes.
Mr. Barry Field : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list those environmental organisations that have been involved in eco-labelling consultation ;
(2) what percentage of the market will be required for qualification in each of the markets under consideration by the United Kingdom Eco-Labelling Board ; and if he will list them ; (3) if he will include in the environmental impact statement for eco-labelling of product contents the effect of sourcing of ingredients on third world cultures and ecosystems as well as the presence of volatile organic compounds ;
(4) what studies he has made of the different energy mixes used in manufacturing throughout the European Community when developing eco-label criteria for the United Kingdom.
Mr. Maclean : The United Kingdom Eco-Labelling Board has been established to administer and promote the European Community eco-labelling scheme nationally and has responsibility for dealing with the operational aspects of the scheme. I have therefore asked the board to reply to my hon. Friend direct.
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Mr. Barry Field : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps is taking to encourage the European Commission to issue clear guidelines on eco-labelling.
Mr. Maclean : We have consistently pressed the European Commission to implement the scheme as quickly as possible and to issue whatever guidance may be required.
Mr. Barry Field : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what studies he has made of the effectiveness of eco-labelling as opposed to fiscal measures on (a) energy use sources, (b) waste disposal, (c) incentives for energy efficiency, (d) tax breaks for recycling or re-use or (e) tax breaks for clean of non-renewable technology.
Mr. Maclean : The eco-labelling scheme aims to create a market advantage for manufactures and retailers who make and stock greener products. The scheme is a European Community commitment and it is complementary to any fiscal measures which might be taken in particular sectors.
Press Releases
Mr. Battle : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in order all his Department's press releases since 1 September 1992.
Mr Howard : Monthly summaries of this Department's press releases for the period 1 September 1992 to31 January 1993 have been placed in the Library.
Housing
Mr. Ancram : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent talks he has had with financial institutions about their potential involvement in the private rented sector in housing.
Mr. Baldry : My hon. Friend, the Minister for Housing and Planning, has had a series of meetings with financial institutions to discuss a wide range of issues, including the potential for their involvement in the private rented housing sector to a greater degree than at present. We envisage that these will continue.
Aggregates
Sir Dudley Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now publish in full his Department's revised approach to sand and gravel extraction in England and Wales.
Sir George Young : The Department has published revised planning guidelines for aggregates provision in England and Wales for public consultation. The consultation period ends on 31 March and the guidelines will be published once the public response has been assessed.
Mr. Martlew : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what research has been carried out by his Department into the use of recycled material as an alternative to aggregate extraction ; what other examination his Department has made of ways of reducing the demand for aggregates in the United Kingdom ; and if he will make a statement.
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Mr. Baldry : My Department has commissioned a number of studies into ways of achieving more efficient use of aggregates, including research into the occurrence and utilisation of mineral and construction wastes. No research has been undertaken into reducing directly the demand for aggregates, which is a reflection of the demands made by society on the construction industry.
Mr. Martlew : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what investigation he plans to carry out into the comparative environmental problems and benefits between developing coastal superquarries and inland sources of aggregates ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Baldry : Regional commentaries produced by the regional aggregates working parties indicate that traditional sources of primary aggregates will not be able to meet all anticipated demand over the next 20 years without some unacceptable environmental implications. My Department is therefore considering a range of options for meeting future demand. Any proposals for the development of coastal superquarries will be assessed on their merits and full regard will be had to their possible environmental impact.
Mr. Martlew : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the figures for the consumption of the different types of aggregates including crushed rock, sand and gravel, marine dredged sand and gravel, secondary aggregates and recycled materials, as used by different industries in each year since 1985 ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Baldry : The proportions of the total consumption of primary aggregates (sand and gravel and crushed rock) accounted for by particular sectors of the construction industry in England and Wales in 1990 have been estimated by ECOTEC Research and Consulting Ltd. as :
3
|Per cent.
---------------------------------------------------
Housing |20
Roads (including Bridges) |24
Private Industrial |11
Private Commercial |12
Other Public |13
Road Repair and Maintenance |8
Housing Repair and Maintenance |8
Other |3
No detailed statistics are available on the use of different types of aggregates by these separate sectors.
Mr. Martlew : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what expertise exists in the national co-ordinating group and each of the regional aggregates working parties to assess the potential for synthetic and waste materials as alternatives to aggregates ; what consultations each of these bodies has with environmental and other interests in carrying out their duties ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Baldry : These groups possess no specific expertise on secondary and waste materials for aggregates use. In addition to these groups, however, the Department also receives advice from consultants and the appropriate trade associations. Consultations have also taken place with environmental and other interests on the regional commentaries produced by the regional aggregates
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working parties and my Department has taken the responses into consideration in the revised guidelines for aggregates provision which have been published for consultation.Mr. Martlew : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much (a) crushed rock, (b) sand and gravel, (c) marine dredged sand and gravel, (d) secondary aggregates and (e) recycled materials have been (i) imported into the United Kingdom and (ii) exported from the United Kingdom for 1985 until the latest available date ; if he will list the countries involved ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Baldry : Very little crushed rock, land-won sand and gravel or secondary and recycled aggregates have been imported or exported to or from the United Kingdom since 1985. Total exports and imports of these aggregates are estimated to account for les than 1 per cent. of total United Kingdom aggregates production and consumption. Marine sand and gravel dredged in United Kingdom waters is landed in some other European countries, principally Holland, Belgium and France. Foreign landings of marine dredged sand and gravel since 1985 are :
-
|Tonnes
------------------------------
1985 |2,495,000
1986 |2,317,000
1987 |2,564,000
1988 |2,379,000
1989 |2,590,000
1990 |3,818,000
1991 |4,614,000
Source: Crown Estate.
FC Initiatives
Mr. Illsley : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what further allocations of funding are available to the United Kingdom from the European social fund and the European regional development fund, for initiatives which are the responsibility of his Department, as a result of the fall in the exchange rate.
Mr. Robin Squire : I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him today by my hon. Friend the Minister for Industry.
Derelict Land
Mr. Rowe : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what resources are being made available for derelict land reclamation under the derelict land grant programme in 1993-94 ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Redwood : The resources available in 1993-94 for derelict land reclamation under the derelict land grant programme will be £103.5 million.
The reclamation of derelict and often seriously contaminated land plays a vital role in regenerating run down urban areas and improving the environment. In the last five years DLG has funded the reclamation of more than 6,000 hectares (14,820 acres) of derelict land, and more than, 1,500 hectares of land are now reclaimed annually.
DLG is available throughout England, but in practice the largest allocations go to the north west and Yorkshire
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and Humberside regions where some of the most extensive dereliction is found ; and to the west midlands where funding is needed for continued investigative and remedial work on old limestone workings in the black country.A large proportion of the DLG programme will be devoted to 25 rolling programmes of reclamation, which will receive £45 million in 1993-94.
Reclamation in areas subject to colliery closures is an important priority. DLG is being used in these areas mainly to reclaim collieries closed before March 1990 : British Coal has agreed to take financial responsibility for the reclamation of most collieries closing since then. In 1993-94, £19 million of DLG will be devoted to treating dereliction arising from coal mining.
The Government's continued high level of commitment to the clearance of dereliction will ensure that momentum is not lost in the handover to the urban regeneration agency. The agency will have a wide range of powers to deal with derelict, vacant and underused land either itself or in cooperation with local authorities and the private and voluntary sectors.
Earth Summit
Mr. Robathan : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether Population Concern, the International Planned Parenthood Federation and Marie Stopes International have been invited to take part in the discussions on the practical implementation of the Earth Summit agreements at the International Conference for
Non-Governmental Organisations in Manchester in September.
Mr. Maclean : We have consulted on proposals to hold an international conference in September on the theme of partnerships for change. We are considering responses to our consultation note. When we issue invitations to attend, we shall bear in mind the interest of people engaged in the population issues.
Urban Waste Water
Mr. Campbell-Savours : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the sites proposed to him for classification as sensitive areas under the EC directive on urban waste water treatment, including the proposing body, by reason of (a) eutrophication and (b) inland water with a nitrate concentration greater than 50 mg/l.
Mr. Maclean : The urban waste water treatment directive requires member states to identify sensitive areas, in accordance with the criteria set out in the directive, by 31 December this year. The National Rivers Authority is at present compiling final lists of "candidate" sensitive areas which it will submit to the Department for consideration. Similar exercises are being carried out in the remainder of the United Kingdom. An announcement about the location of the areas to be formally identified as sensitive will be made before the deadline imposed in the directive.
Protection Regulations
Mr. Hardy : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the regulations protecting the environment which he proposes to take steps to rescind.
Mr. Maclean : My right hon. Friend is currently reviewing all regulations protecting the environment to
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ensure that they are necessary, and that they are meeting their objectives in the most efficient way possible with the minimum burden on industry.Civil Servants (Bicycles)
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the current conditions on which civil servants in his Department are granted salary advances to enable the purchase of bicycles for home-to-office travel ; if he will make a statement on the current conditions in each agency of his Department ; what plans he has to change the conditions ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Howard [holding answer 18 January 1993] : Neither my Department not its agencies currently have a scheme for granting salary advances for the purchase of bicycles. However, my Department is currently reviewing the exisitng facilities for staff who cycle to work.
Abandoned Mines (Water Pollution)
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to complete his consideration of the framework of responsibility for water pollution from abandoned mines ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Maclean [holding answer 10 February 1993] : We aim to reach conclusions later this year.
Oil Spillages
Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he will take to protect sites of special scientific interest and other environmentally important areas from the effects of oil spillages.
Mr. Maclean [holding answer 12 February 1993] : In advance of any recommendations arising from the Marine Accident Investigation Branch investigation into the Shetland tanker incident or from the inquiry conducted by Lord Donaldson on the measures necessary to protect the United Kingdom coastline from pollution from merchant shipping, I draw the hon. Member's attention to the agreement reached by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport with tanker operators to avoid a number of sensitive areas.
Coal-fired Power Stations
Mr. John Evans : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment in what circumstances his Department is required to grant permission before sulphur can be added to coal used in coal-fired power stations.
Mr. Maclean [holding answer 9 February 1993] : There is no record of sulphur being added to coal used in power stations. However, in appropriate circumstances, traces of sulphur trioxide may be added to the flue gases to provide a very great improvement in the removal of particulate matter in an electrostatic precipitator. The sulphur trioxide has little environmental significance in the quantities used. Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution would require notification before the use of sulphur trioxide began at a power station.
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