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KPMG--1. Community Care Database
European Regional Development Trust
Mr. Win Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the annual sums of money committed since the inception of the European regional development trust to each recipient local authority and each regional council and the annual amounts paid to each from the fund.
Mr. Stewart : The information is not readily available in the form requested. Since 1975, local authorities in Scotland have received awards totalling almost £677 million which have resulted in payments to date totalling almost £576 million. The total awards and payments to each recipient local authority are as follows :
|£ |£
District Councils |Award |Payment
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Angus |1,328,797 |1,152,268
Argyll and Bute |759,245 |518,624
Caithness |153,000 |61,200
City of Dundee |9,277,976 |6,612,747
Clackmannan |1,389,900 |1,153,943
Clydebank |2,719,599 |2,607,408
Clydesdale |827,969 |789,187
Cumnock and Doon Valley |1,651,443 |838,411
Cunninghame |5,978,945 |4,587,373
Dumbarton |1,063,271 |860,060
Dunfermline |2,754,280 |1,839,478
East Kilbride |3,271,456 |1,256,160
East Lothian |565,144 |318,097
Eastwood |55,000 |51,250
Edinburgh |1,014,146 |811,629
Falkirk |2,683,080 |2,026,781
Glasgow |20,626,470 |19,088,113
Gordon |193,000 |193,000
Hamilton |2,621,622 |1,845,712
Inverclyde |2,995,450 |1,375,888
Inverness |1,495,696 |1,126,923
Kilmarnock and Loudoun |2,374,200 |476,382
Kirkcaldy |2,542,336 |1,797,626
Kyle and Carrick |553,350 |215,336
Lochaber |531,600 |38,600
Midlothian |1,957,911 |824,423
Monklands |5,062,430 |4,419,117
Moray |59,640 |33,133
Motherwell |3,029,719 |2,930,359
Nairn |45,727 |27,318
Nithsdale |174,500 |165,988
North East Fife |189,300 |165,403
Perth and Kinross |16,406 |13,637
Renfrew |5,055,215 |4,192,037
Ross and Cromarty |1,256,509 |939,398
Skye and Lochalsh |55,000 |55,000
Stewartry |144,000 |144,000
Stirling |6,033,266 |3,496,497
Strathkelvin |1,290,835 |1,076,405
Sutherland |18,000 |18,000
West Lothian |3,608,214 |2,705,641
Wigtown |920,000 |834,542
Regional Councils
Borders |2,551,288 |1,744,124
Central |27,363,430 |22,353,603
Dumfries and Galloway |12,868,995 |10,158,583
Fife |29,261,460 |23,388,543
Grampian |14,439,042 |13,601,252
Highland |64,744,265 |58,893,445
Lothian |39,450,238 |31,770,343
Strathclyde |277,464,202 |248,789,512
Tayside |32,583,733 |28,537,101
Islands Councils
Orkney |18,844,047 |13,036,540
Shetland |29,790,829 |25,302,973
Western Isles |29,113,521 |24,304,728
Scottish Enterprise
Mr. Worthington : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from Scottish Enterprise about its ability to respond to the training needs of existing work forces within Government guidelines.
Mr. Stewart : My right hon. Friend has received no such representations from Scottish Enterprise. His officials in the Scottish Office Industry Department meet and discuss with Scottish Enterprise officials from time to time a range of issues affecting delivery of Government training programmes, including the application of the guidelines governing these programmes.
Mr. Worthington : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from Scottish Enterprise about the adequacy of the supply of serviced sites of differing sizes in the Scottish economy.
Mr. Stewart : Ensuring an adequate supply of suitable sites and premises for businesses, including inward investors, is a key function of the enterprise bodies ; and it is a matter on which Scottish Enterprise and the Scottish Office are in regular contact.
Consultants
Mr. Milburn : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the firms of consultants employed by his Department and the number of contracts they have undertaken.
Mr. Lang : I refer the hon. Member to my replies to the hon. Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Meacher) of 21 February 1994, Official Report , columns 51-52 and to the hon. Member for Greenock and Port Glasgow (Dr. Godman) of 16 March 1994, Official Report , columns 659-60.
Mr. Matthew Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information technology consultants his Department has employed, for what purpose and at what total cost, for each of the last five years.
Mr. Lang : I refer the hon. Member to my replies to the hon. Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Meacher) of 21 February 1994, Official Report , columns 51-52 and to the hon. Member for Greenock and Port Glasgow (Dr. Godman), on 16 March 1994, Official Report , columns 659-60 . These include details of information technology consultancy contracts.
Dounreay
Mr. Morley : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the Paris Commission's policy agreed in June 1993 will be used in deciding whether to allow the Dounreay reprocessing plant to increase levels of radioactive discharge.
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Sir Hector Monro [holding answer 7 March 1994] : Recommendations of the Paris Commission are not binding although the United Kingdom complies with those it accepts. The United Kingdom entered a reservation to recommendation 93/5 and takes the view that it is inappropriate for the Commission to have a role in the approval or rejection of individual projects. Nevertheless, the United Kingdom takes most seriously its commitments under the Paris convention and it is expected that the national competent authority will have full regard to these commitments in arriving at decisions in respect of the current applications for revised discharge authorisations at Dounreay.
Mr. Morley : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the arrangements made for international scrutiny and consultation on allowing increased radioactive discharge from Dounreay reprocessing plant.
Sir Hector Monro [holding answer 7 March 1994] : All international obligations with respect to the current applications for a revised discharge authorisation for Dounreay will be complied with.
Forestry Commission
Mrs. Ewing : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list all Forestry Commission woods currently for sale in (a) Scotland, (b) Wales and (c) England ; and if he will give details of all current targets for the disposal of Forestry Commission land both by area and projected income.
Sir Hector Monro [holding answer 23 March 1994] : The areas of forest land currently being offered for sale by the Forestry Commission on the open market are given below.
As set out in the Government's expenditure plans 1994-95 to 1996-97, the commission plans to sell about 15,000 hectares of forest land in each of the next three years, and expects to receive a total of about £61 million from the sale of forest land and surplus properties during that period.
Region and Name |Area
------------------------------------------------------------------
Scotland
Borders
Lumsdaine |5
Dumfries and Galloway
Aldouran |15
Grampian
Auchintoul Moss |62
Bithnie |129
Craigmuir Wood |34
Cruchie Wood |7
Haremoss |19
Lauchentilly Moss |30
Longhill |120
Moreseat of Hatton |38
Mormond Hill |255
New Pitsligo (2 lots) |42
Whitestones |5
Highland
Ardelve |26
Balmore (Craskie) |49
Balmore (Glencannich) |70
Balmore (Main Road) |40
Balmore (Muchrachd) |29
Clava and Craggie (Lot 1) |33
Croftdhu |14
Dundonnell |312
Eilean Darach |110
Faichem |7
Fain (Cpt 2038) |22
Fain South (Cpt 2037) |4
Gleann Mor |17
Old Calder |40
Score Farm and Roadside Strips |17
Storr (East) |79
Strathclyde
Auchindrain |234
Dalsmirren |1,094
High Ugdale |21
Inverneill |102
Loch Sween |179
Scoor and Beech (Lots 3, 4, 5, 6) |1,784
Tayside
Auchleeks |358
Keillour (part) |11
-----------------------------
Wales
Dyfed
Allt Cil y Llyn Fawr |3
Allt y Fergwm |23
Cilgwyn Wood |11
Coed Cefn Pwll Hen |20
Hafod Wood |12
Llwyn y Gwair |14
Penrallt Ddu |13
Ty'r Shyme |7
Gwent
Llandafal Wood |10
Ty Fry Big Wood |17
Powys
Coed Llwydral |3
Coed Pen-yr-Herber |4
Cyfronydd |8
Dewis Gwyn |6
Dolarddyn Wood |4
Henllan |5
Henryhd Wood |11
Moel Groes Heol |130
Moydog Wood |6
Pen-y-Coed |4
West Glamorgan
Bryn Llefrith |26
Nant y Stalwyn |44
County and name |Area
------------------------------------------------------------
England
Berkshire
Lot Wood |6
Cornwall
Croft Pascoe |45
Haywood |54
Penance and Derry's |7
Port Elliot Estate |108
Prideaux |24
Treworgey |17
Wheal Par |5
Derbyshire
Overton Wood (Part) |23
Devon
Bedpark |8
Brownsham Wood |70
Bucksmill |24
Chagford (5 Lots) |33
Deershill Wood |11
Hawkmoor |22
Knowle Wood |8
Little Silver/Crowball Wood |8
Northpark |17
Pulsworthy |3
Hampshire
Fishers/Tiddles |28
Land at Bassett Green |2
Isle of Wight
Long Lane |9
Woodhouse |18
Kent
Cole Wood |22
Lincolnshire
Black Plantation |5
Hallbush |10
Hungram Gorse |6
Pleasurehouse Wood |10
Square Wood |2
Northumberland
Haydon Fell |20
Nottinghamshire
Coombs Wood |16
Shropshire
Coed Detton |14
Somerset
Chantry |6
East Wood |12
Fry's Wood |24
Harridge Wood |39
Higher Bitcombe |30
Lower Bitcombe |18
Oaktrow Wood |17
Stowey Wood |3
The Thickets |4
Timbercombe (East) |7
West Wood |9
South Yorkshire
Green Springs |12
The Old Park |41
West Sussex
Hedgelands Copse |11
Wiltshire
Roundway Hill Covert |27
Secondary School Teachers
Mrs. Ray Michie : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the number of graduates trained as secondary school teachers at each college in Scotland for the past 10 years and the subjects being studied ; if he will list the number of new graduate teachers employed per
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local authority in that time ; if he will show what occupations each graduate qualifying in secondary school teaching has entered in the last 10 years ; if he will list the cost of the training of graduate secondary school teachers in each year since 1984 ; and if he will make a statement.Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer28 March 1994] : Information is not available in the precise form requested. The number of graduates trained as secondary school teachers by subject area is set out in statistical bulletins published by the Scottish Office in June 1992 and December 1993--reference numbers Edn/G1/1992/8 and Edn/G1/1993/11--copies of which are available in the Library of the House. Tables 1 and 2 following provide information about the number of newly qualified secondary teachers known to have been appointed to teaching posts in Scotland and the first destination of newly qualified teachers. Table 3 provides information about the cost of training secondary school teachers.
Table 1
Number of newly qualified secondary teachers known to have been
appointed to teaching posts in Scotland at March of each year following
graduation
Qualified in June
of
Employer in Scotland |1987 |1988 |1989 |1990 |1991 |1992
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scotland total |395 |369 |283 |404 |434 |602
Borders |5 |11 |6 |5 |7 |11
Central |17 |19 |4 |15 |23 |31
Dumfries and Galloway |26 |27 |9 |12 |15 |10
Fife |24 |25 |23 |35 |25 |34
Grampian |44 |48 |51 |35 |59 |80
Highland |20 |20 |15 |25 |18 |21
Lothian |21 |23 |24 |24 |24 |60
Strathclyde |174 |125 |116 |198 |204 |284
Tayside |45 |28 |12 |18 |26 |28
Islands authorities |16 |19 |10 |14 |10 |11
Independent or other schools |3 |23 |13 |23 |23 |32
Outside Scotland |61 |60 |53 |45 |74 |82
|------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |-------
Total |456 |429 |336 |449 |508 |684
Table 2 First destination of newly qualified secondary teachers in Scotland at March of year following graduation Qualified |Employed |Employed |Unemployed|Other |Not |Total in June |as |(non- |known of |teachers |teaching) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1987 |456 |57 |87 |11 |67 |678 1988 |429 |50 |23 |8 |70 |580 1989 |336 |45 |39 |9 |40 |469 1990 |449 |35 |43 |6 |75 |608 1991 |508 |47 |82 |13 |212 |862 1992 |684 |46 |98 |7 |298 |1,133 Notes: 1. Information on the first destination of newly qualified teachers is obtained from a twice-yearly survey of graduates from the five colleges of education and former colleges of education. The first survey is taken at September following graduation; a follow-up survey takes place in March. 2. There is a high level of non-response to this survey, so that currently the first destination of around 25 per cent. of newly qualified teachers is unknown. Direct comparison between years is complicated by the effect of varying degrees of non-response to the survey in different years. 3. Figures are unavailable prior to 1987. 4. Information on the nature of non-teaching employment is unavailable. 5. The figures in both tables include an element of estimation in cases where only partial information is known. 6. Information on Stirling University teacher training graduates is not available in this form.
Table 3
Course |Estimated cost|Year
|per student
|(£)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
BEd Secondary |26,460 |1989-90
(4-year course) |31,320 |1990-91
|26,880 |1991-92
PGCE Secondary |6,610 |1989-90
(one-year postgraduate course) |7,600 |1990-91
|7,300 |1991-92
Notes:
1. Information for earlier years is unavailable.
2. The information is based upon returns from teacher training institutions
(other than the University of Stirling) detailing course costs. The figures
include also an estimate of student support costs, assuming entitlement to
full maintenance grant and loan at the "home" rates.
ENVIRONMENT
Local Taxes
Mr. Straw : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has to permit the contracting out of local tax collection, including the exercise of discretion in granting discounts and initiating prosecutions ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Gummer : I have issued a consultation paper setting out my intentions, subject to the passage of the Deregulation and Contracting Out Bill. This was sent to interested parties and placed in the Library on 25 March.
Air Pollution
Mr. Shore : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to increase (a) the number of nitrogen dioxide pollution monitoring sites in London and (b) the number of London sites in the enhanced urban network of air quality monitoring stations ; and what is the average cost of each pollution monitoring site.
Mr. Atkins : The Government are committed to extending the enhanced urban monitoring network to cover all major cities by 1997. In addition the Government are currently considering responses to the recently published consultation paper on "The Future of Air Quality Monitoring Networks in the United Kingdom", in which proposals were made to develop a framework which draws local and national air quality monitoring together into a coherent quality assured network. Any expansion in the number of monitoring sites within the London area will be made in the context of these two initiatives. The average cost to establish an enhanced urban network site is of the order of £110,000 with an additional annual running cost of £75, 000. The capital cost of establishing an automatic nitrogen dioxide monitoring site is about £30,000 with a subsequent annual running cost of an additional £25,000.
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has for co-ordinating the collection and assessment of air pollution data from local
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authority environmental health department monitoring equipment and his Department's network of pollution monitoring stations.Mr. Atkins : The Government are considering responses to the recently published consultation paper on "The Future of Air Quality Monitoring Networks in the United Kingdom", which included proposals to develop a framework which draws local and national air quality monitoring together into a coherent quality assured network.
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consultations he has had with the OPSIS users group of local authority air pollution monitoring equipment users.
Mr. Atkins : My Department is aware of the work of this group.
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received to resite the Frederick street, Cardiff, air pollution monitoring station away from the pedestrian shopping precinct and to resite the Croft street monitoring station away from the traffic management scheme area ; what guidelines he has issued as to the priority of (a) kerbside and (b) pedestrian congregation areas for measurement of vehicle exhaust emission levels as regards (a) PM10 and (b) benzene ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Atkins : I refer the hon. Member to my answer to his question on 30 March, Official Report, column 872, on siting criteria for air quality monitoring.
I have received no representation on the siting of the Frederick street or Croft street monitoring stations. I have published no guidelines on the priority or otherwise of kerbside and pedestrian congregation areas for air quality monitoring purposes.
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the guidelines pertaining to the siting requirements for air pollution monitoring stations ; what proposals he has for ensuring that vehicle exhaust emission air pollution is measured by monitoring stations located in sites other than in pedestrian precincts ; what representations he has received in relation to the location of the air pollution monitoring station at Frederick street, Cardiff ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Atkins [holding answer 31 March 1994] : The siting criteria of the Department of the Environment's enhanced urban network are given in the "Enhanced Urban Monitoring Network Site Operators Manual". A copy of the siting criteria have been placed in the Library of the House. Sites which are established to monitor compliance with an EC directive are located according to the requirements of the directive. Air quality is monitored at the kerbside monitoring station at Cromwell road, London within 1m of the road.
I have received no representation on the location of the air quality monitoring station at Frederick street, Cardiff.
Water Pollution
Mr. Cummings : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many water courses have been polluted through water from disused coal mines in the county of Durham ; and if he will give their locations.
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Mr. Atkins : The National Rivers Authority is carrying out an assessment of water pollution from disused coal mines in the Durham coalfield and has identified a number of cases where there has been a localised impact. Details are available from the NRA's Northumbria and Yorkshire region.
Hazardous Substances
Mr. Clapham : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington (Mr. Forman) of 24 January, Official Report, column 32, which organisation or individual is doing the research into the operation of consents under the Planning (Hazardous Substances) Act 1990 ; what is its cost ; on what date it was commissioned ; what consultations were undertaken to determine the terms of reference of the research ; when the report will be received ; and if he will publish the research and its findings.
Mr. Baldry : Following competitive bids, the research contract was awarded to Staffordshire university. The project commenced on 1 November 1993 and is expected to be completed by the end of April. The cost of the project will be in the region of £30,000, including VAT. The normal consultations were carried out on the terms of reference of the research. It is the Department's usual practice to publish research reports.
Waste Management
Mr. John Marshall : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he accepts recommendation 234 of the deregulation task force with regard to exempting recyclate from the waste management regime.
Mr. Atkins : The substantial deregulation action that my Department is taking in relation to all the task force recommendations to reduce unnecessary controls on business, including the metal recycling industry, while safeguarding environmental and public safety is fully set out in each of the three categories at pages 36 to 44 of the DTI publication, "Deregulation--Cutting Red Tape," which was issued on 19 January. A copy of this publication was placed in the Library on that date.
Kirklees Council
Mr. Riddick : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the debt of Kirklees council ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Baldry : The total external debt of Kirklees metropolitan council was £261 million at 31 March 1993.
We shall continue to encourage authorities to reduce its indebtedness.
London (Elected Authority)
Mr. Raynsford : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many of the responses to his consultation paper, "London, Making the Best Better", referred to the need for a democratically elected citywide authority for London.
Sir George Young : Some 17 per cent. of the people responding to the consultation exercise said they would like to see the creation of a single elected authority for
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London and a further 6 per cent. made a specific reference to the GLC. In addition, 5 per cent. of respondents mentioned some form of single strategic planning authority for London, 1 per cent. an elected mayor, and 2 per cent. a combination of two or more of the suggestions.Single Regeneration Budget
Mr. Vaz : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps have been taken to ensure that the single regeneration budget is fair and equitable to all sections of the community.
Mr. Baldry : The bidding guidance for the single regeneration budget, which will be issued shortly following extensive consultation, will make it clear that the budget is intended to benefit, among others, those sections of the community which are at a disadvantage, the young and ethnic minorities, and will help to promote equal opportunities. Monitoring arrangements will be put in place to ensure that support through the budget reaches those people it is intended to benefit.
Habitats Directive
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidelines he will issue in relation to the implementation of the European Union habitats directive ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Atkins : A planning policy guidance note--PPG--on nature conservation will be issued shortly before regulations transposing the habitats directive come into force. Guidance and advice on other aspects of the directive may be provided as appropriate to affected land owners and occupiers and others either by the Government or the statutory nature conservation agencies.
River Pollution
Mr. Pike : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will call for a report on pollution problems relating to Black Clough, Cliviger, Burnley, from the National Rivers Authority and North West Water ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Atkins : I understand that the National Rivers Authority has investigated water pollution of Black Clough from the closed Black Clough, Deerplay and Hilltop collieries. The consultation paper "Paying for our Past", published on 8 March, said that the justifiction for the special exemptions for abandoned mines should be reassessed in the light of the emerging conclusions of the review of contaminated land and liabilities, and invited views on the exemptions.
Sewage Pumping
Mr. Steen : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will issue advice to water companies as to the desirability of reducing energy consumption expended in pumping of sewage towns and the countryside prior to treatment.
Mr. Atkins : The energy expended by companies in carrying out their business is a commercial matter for the individual companies concerned. However, the Department is concerned that energy is used as efficiently as possible and encourages companies to consider energy
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efficiency to reduce their consumption. Indeed, for many years my energy efficiency office has actively promoted the take-up of efficiency measures through initiatives such as the best practice programme. It offers advice and guidance on reducing energy consumption to industry, commerce and the domestic sectors. A number of publications aimed specifically at reducing energy consumption in the water industry are available from the Energy Efficiency Office and the water research centre. Some of the material from the EEO was produced in conjunction with the centre and with water companies such as South West Water.Combined heat and power is one element of the programme that the EEO encourages wherever it is cost-effective. This is a very efficient and environmentally friendly option and is particularly suited to the water industry as it can use the sewage gas produced as a by-product from the treatment of sewage to produce electricity and useful heat. Thus the sewage itself could produce the electricity required to pump the sewage prior to and after treatment.
Subsistance Allowances
Mr. Hardy : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to ensure the subsistance and car allowances for elected representatives in local government are not lower then those provided for justices of the peace ; and if he will discuss with the Chancellor of the Exchequer the question of the taxation of councillors' subsistance allowances.
Mr. Baldry : We are currently reviewing the ceilings on councillors' travel and subsistence allowances in the light of the recommendations of the working party on internal management. The tax treatment of such allowances is a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer to determine.
Consultation Papers (Responses)
Mr. Battle : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total number of responses to the consultation paper, "Access to Local Authority and Housing Association Tenancies" ; how many responses supported the proposals ; and what is the highest number of responses received to a consultation paper of his Department.
Sir George Young : In total we have received over 9,000 responses to the consultation paper. Our proposals cover a range of issues, and the more considered the responses have addressed each separately ; consequently there is no simple distinction between those supporting the proposals and the remainder.
My Department has on occasions received substantially more representations on other matters of widespread interest.
Cable Laying
Mr. Lord : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to investigate the effect of increased cable laying on street trees ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Atkins : The effects of cable laying on street trees will be illustrated in guidelines which should be published
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later this year. With the assistance of my Department, these guidelines are being drawn up by the utility and arboricultural associations, and will provide constructive advice on how to ensure that cable laying results in the least possible damage to trees.Vacant Local Authority Houses, Leeds
Mr. Hendry : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the most recent figures he has for the total number of local authority houses vacant in Leeds ; and what proportion of these are management lets.
Sir George Young : The latest available information reported by Leeds city council shows that 1,454 of its dwellings were vacant at 1 April 1993 ; some 62 per cent. of these were management vacants--that is, dwellings available for letting immediately or after minor repairs.
Metal Recycling
Mr. Sykes : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what assessment he has made on the effect of forthcoming waste management regulations on the asset base of the metal recycling industry ;
(2) what representations he has received on the effect of the intended waste management regulations on the asset base of the metal recycling industry.
Mr. Atkins : My Department has received representations on this matter from the secondary metals industry. The waste management licensing regulations will require holders of waste management licences to remain responsible for discharging the conditions of the licence until the condition of the site, insofar as it arises from the handling of waste carried on at the site, is such that the licence may be surrendered. If a licensed metal recycler carries out his activities in such a way that the condition of the land is unlikely to cause pollution or harm to human health then there will be no bar to the surrender of a licence and the realisation of the asset value of a site. If pollution or harm is caused or is likely, that might be expected to affect the asset value of a site irrespective of the provisions of waste law.
Mr. Burden : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list each of the deregulation task force's recommendations as they affect the metal recycling industry indicating whether the Government have accepted the recommendations or not ; and in the case of acceptance of the recommendations, what action the Government intend to take.
Mr. Atkins : I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Hendon, South (Mr. Marshall).
Mr. Sykes : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on the application of article 11 of the EC framework directive on waste in exempting metal recycling from licence provision in each of the member states.
Mr. Atkins : Article 11 of the EC framework directive on waste permits member states to make exemptions from permits for activities involving the recovery of waste, including metal recovery, subject to provisos directed at the protection of the environment. It is for each member state to decide how to implement the provisions of the
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directive. My Department does not hold detailed information on relevant national law in other member states.Mr. Burden : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what will be the effect of describing waste management licences issued to recyclers of non-ferrous metals as metal recycling licences ; and how the conditions for the issue of metal recycling licences will differ from those attached to the issue of waste management licences.
Mr. Atkins : The waste management licensing regulations will require persons who recover waste, including waste non-ferrous metal, to do so under a waste management licence, except insofar as their activities may be exempted under the regulations. I have accepted the suggestion of the secondary metals industry that those waste management licences authorising the recovery of metal should be described as "metal recovery licences" to help to focus attention on the distinctive features of the industry. The Government will be issuing advice in a waste management paper on the conditions appropriate to licences for metal recovery.
Hazardous Waste
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what measures he has taken or will take to meet the obligation under the Basle convention article 4(2a) to ensure that the generation of hazardous waste within the United Kingdom is reduced to a minimum taking into account social, technological and economic aspects ;
(2) what measures he has taken or will take to meet the obligation under the Basle convention article 4(9a) to ensure that transboundary movement of hazardous waste will be allowed only if the United Kingdom does not have the technical capacity, necessary facilities or suitable disposal sites to dispose of the wastes in an
environmentally sound manner ;
(3) how he will ensure that exporters of hazardous waste comply with the obligation under the Basle convention article 4(8) and article 4(10) to which the United Kingdom becomes a full party on 8 May, to ensure that hazardous waste exported for recycling before 31 December 1997 is managed in an environmentally sound manner ; which United Kingdom authorities will be responsible ; what guidance he plans to issue to exporters and the relevant authorities ; who will carry the costs of meeting this obligation ; what extra resources will be made available to the relevant authorities ; and what action he will take to prevent waste shipments where the exporter has not yet demonstrated that he can meet the obligation ;
(4) what redress will be available in the United Kingdom from the date when the United Kingdom becomes a full party to the Basle convention to those harmed by hazardous waste exports from the United Kingdom before 31 December 1997 which are not managed in an environmentally sound manner, in contravention of the Basle convention article 4(8).
Mr. Atkins : On waste minimisation I would refer the hon. Member to chapter 23 of "Sustainable Development : the UK Strategy", Cm 2426, copies of which have been placed in the Library.
The hon. Member may have misinterpreted article 4(9) of the Basle convention. I would refer him to sub-paragraphs (b) and (c) of that article, which are equal
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in weight to sub-paragraph (a). Sub- paragraph (b) allows for the movement of wastes where they are required as a raw material for recycling or recovery industries in the state of import ; and sub-paragraph (c) allows for waste movements which are in accordance with other criteria to be decided by the parties.The obligations of the Basle convention will be implemented in the European Community by council regulation EEC 259/93. As regards the hon. Member's reference to paragraphs (8) and (10) of article 4 of the Basle convention, I have nothing to add to my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Brentford and Isleworth (Mr. Deva) on 2 March, Official Report, column 714, and my right hon. Friend's answer to the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent (Mr. Smith) on 30 March, Official Report, columns 866-67.
The Government aim fully to comply with their obligations under the Basle convention to require that hazardous wastes or other wastes exported from the United Kingdom are managed in an environmentally sound manner.
River Thames
Mr. Spearing : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what additional funds he expects to be devoted to projects or events which he has so far publicised in respect of the River Thames in London ; and under whose auspices they will be spent and managed.
Sir George Young : In relation to the Thames festival, a steering group which is chaired by Clive Priestley, chairman of the London Arts Board and includes representatives of London First, the London Council for Sport and Recreation, the Sports Council, the Department of the Environment and others will shortly be considering a feasibility study and business plan for the festival, including its funding and overall management.
Announcements will be made shortly about the funding and management of the preparation of the Thames study and feasibility study for the Thames cycle route.
Mr. Spearing : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment on what specific matters in respect of the Thames in London he has consulted the London Rivers Association.
Sir George Young : The London Rivers Association was formally consulted in March 1993 on the Government's approach to the east Thames corridor. Officials have also met the association for a general discussion on Thames issues. In addition, the London Rivers Association has been formally consulted about a number of issues connected with the work of the Thames working group chaired by my hon. Friend the Minister for Transport in London.
Mr. Spearing : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consultation he has already had concerning his suggestion for events relating to the Thames in 1995 ; and what statutory duties he or his Department have for the Thames in London (a) directly and (b) indirectly through statutory bodies.
Sir George Young : The Department of the Environment in association with the London Arts Board, the London Council for Sport and Recreation, London First, the National Rivers Authority and others is assisting with the preparation of a feasibility study for a Thames Festival in 1995.
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Apart from any functions conferred by local enactments, the Secretary of State has the same direct responsibilities towards the Thames as for other rivers.The Department has an indirect statutory duty through the preparation of planning policy advice which the London boroughs have to take account of in preparing their unitary development plans and in exercising development control.
The Department also has responsibility for determining applications under the town and country planning legislation that may come before my right hon. Friend on appeal or call-in.
The Department of the Environment also sponsors the National Rivers Authority, which is responsible for pollution control, flood defence and water resources management of the River Thames in London. The NRA also has duties in relation to conservation and recreation and is responsible, upstream of Teddington lock, for navigation and fisheries management.
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