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Mr. Robert B. Jones: We have received some 150 letters from all sections of the construction industry--particularly from specialist contractors. They have been uniformly supportive of the recommendations of the Latham Report.
Mr. Gapes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which recommendations of the Latham report he plans to implement. [18057]
Mr. Robert B. Jones: We have already made my Department the lead Department for progressing the recommendations in the report. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has established a scrutiny of Government's own procurement designed to ensure that
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Government can be a best practice client. We have established and received the report of the review implementation forum and, on its advice, my right hon. Friend has established a construction industry board, chaired by Sir Michael Latham, which brings together all parts of the industry, its clients and relevant government departments. Also on the advice of RIF that there was majority support for the legislative proposals in Sir Michael's report, my right hon. Friend has announced that he intends to publish detailed consultation documents on these matters. The majority of the Latham report recommendations are, however, directed at others and we have been active in urging all parts of the industry to address those recommendations.Mr. Gapes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to bring forward legislation on construction standards. [18055]
Mr. Robert B. Jones: Amendments to part L and part F of the building regulations will come into effect on 1 July 1995. Consultations on possible amendments to part M are currently under way.
My right hon. Friend hopes to issue consultation papers shortly on the legislative proposals in Sir Michael Latham's report "Constructing the Team" HMSO: July 1994.
Telecommunications Development Planning Guidance
Mr. David Nicholson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what planning guidance he issues regarding (a) increasing the number of and (b) the positioning of electricity, radio and telephone (i) tower construction and (ii) overhead pylons in the open countryside; and if he will make a statement. [17895]
Sir Paul Beresford: Planning advice on telecommunications development is given in planning policy guidance note 8, "Telecommunications", December 1992, which was supplemented in 1994 by a circular letter to local planning authorities on the prior approval procedure for the appearance and siting of radio masts of up to 15m in height. Copies of these documents have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
On electricity pylons, all proposed overhead lines in England and Wales, apart from those to supply individual properties and a few other minor developments, require the consent of the President of the Board of Trade under the Electricity Act 1989. Department of the Environment circular 14/90 explains the procedure which electricity supply companies have to follow before putting up an overhead line.
Environmental Reporting and Disclosure
Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether his Department was represented at the meeting on guidelines for environmental reporting and disclosure by multinational companies sponsored by the United Nations conference on trade and development, held in Geneva on 13 to 17 March; and if he will obtain a copy of the report of the meeting and place it in the Library. [17884]
Sir Paul Beresford: The Department of Trade and Industry arranges representation at UNCTAD's intergovernmental working group of experts on international standards of accounting and reporting. The
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UK delegate to the sessions on environmental reporting at ISAR's meeting on 13 to 17 March was Professor Keith Maunders of the university of Hull. I will arrange for a copy of the report of the meeting, when it is available, to be placed in the Library.Electrical Contracting Industry
Mr. Gapes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on Government policy towards the electrical contracting industry. [18058]
Mr. Robert B. Jones: It is our policy to help the electrical contracting industry succeed in its domestic and overseas markets.
Bristol Development Corporation
Ms Corston: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what reasons Argent Estates gave for withdrawal from the Bristol development corporation's Quay point development; and if he will make a statement. [18066]
Sir Paul Beresford: Bristol development corporation informed my Department that Argent Group had decided to withdraw its interest in the development of Quay point.
The reasons for this withdrawal are a matter for the company.
Climate Change Programme
Mr. Robert Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the environment if he has revised the carbon savings target he set for "The Energy Savings Trust in Climate Change--the UK Programme". [17971]
Mr. Robert B. Jones: I refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to him on 28 March, Official Report, column 605. The trust is currently reviewing its plans. It estimates that the programme of activities already established and financed will save about 0.3 million tonnes of carbon in the year 2000. Further schemes will make additional contributions, but they are not yet established. The Government are updating the carbon dioxide chapter of their climate change programme, and this will include an assessment of the likely contribution of energy efficiency. The Government will continue to reflect the key role of the trust, and the targets it sets itself, in the programme; but they will not set targets for the trust.
Earth Tremors, Stoke-on-Trent
Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will investigate the extent and causes of recent earth tremors in Stoke-on- Trent. [17898]
Sir Paul Beresford: The extent of earth tremors in Great Britain is monitored by the British Geological Survey. Eleven separate small events were recorded at Stoke-on-Trent and one at
Newcastle-under-Lyme between the 20 and 28 February, 1995. None of the existing monitoring instruments is located sufficiently close to the centre of the activity to determine the cause. It is not proposed to install additional monitoring equipment since, while this might identify the origin of subsequent tremors, if any occur, it would not identify unambiguously the cause of those which have taken place already.
Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what powers (a) he has and (b) other
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authorities have to investigate the causes of a house collapse at Kidsgrove, Stoke-on-Trent; and if he will make a statement. [17888]Sir Paul Beresford: The Secretary of State for the Environment has no responsibility to investigate the causes of a house collapse. While the local authority has powers to take action to secure public safety, in the event of an emergency, under the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 and the Building Act 1984, these powers do not extend to investigation of the causes of a house collapse. The secure and safe occupancy of a site is a matter for the landowner under the Occupiers' Liability Acts 1957 and 1984. The Coal Authority has responsibility, under the Coal Industry Act 1994, to have regard to securing the safety of members of the public in respect of hazards arising from the physical legacy of coal mining for which it has responsibility. This is in addition to the more specific responsibilities it has in the area of coal mining subsidence.
Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will establish an inquiry into possible links between earth tremors, former mining operations, and a house collapse in Kidsgrove, Stoke-on-Trent. [17889]
Sir Paul Beresford: It would not be appropriate to establish an inquiry, since the Coal Authority is currently investigating this incident to determine whether there is any relationship to the physical legacy of coal mining.
Parliamentary Questions
Mrs. Ann Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many parliamentary questions requesting an ordinary written answer were received by his Department in each year since 1979 80; and how many such questions received a substantiative answer within 10, 15, 20 days or longer; [18523]
(2) how many parliamentary questions to his Department in each year since 1979 80 requesting a priority written answer or answer on a named day, were answered within three days; how many received a holding reply; and how many of those which received a holding reply then received a substantive answer within a further five, 10, 15, 20 days or longer; [18524]
(3) how many times in each year since 1979 80 his Department has given a reply to a parliamentary question which has resulted in the information requested being placed in the Library and not printed in the Official Report ; [18525]
(4) how many times in each year since 1979 80 his Department has written to a right hon. or hon. Member correcting an answer to a parliamentary question; [18526]
(5) how many parliamentary questions to his Department were transferred for answer to the chief executive or other senior official of a non- departmental public body or agency for which he has responsibility in each year since 1979 80 or for each year that the body or agency has been in existence; [18527]
(6) how many parliamentary questions to his Department that were transferred for answer to the chief executive or other senior official of a non-departmental public body or agency for which he has responsibility received an answer which was not printed in the Official Report in each year since 1979 80 or for each year that the body or agency has been in existence. [18528]
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Sir Paul Beresford: The information requested is a matter of public record but it could be extracted only in the form requested at disproportionate cost.
Lambeth Council
Mr. Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) when his Department became aware of Lambeth council's failure to finalise accounts for each relevant financial year between 1979 and financial year ended 1993; and on what date his Department took action in each case; [18402]
(2) what information his Department received as to the failure of Lambeth council to finalise accounts for any financial year between 1979 and financial year ended 1993; and what action his Department took in each case. [18405]
Mr. Curry: Local authorities are required, under regulation 6 of the Accounts and Audit Regulations 1983, SI 1761, to make up and balance accounts for each financial year by no later than six months after the end of that financial year; and, under regulation 15, to publish a statement of accounts no later than nine months after the end of the financial year. Failure to meet these deadlines is a matter for the local authority concerned and the district auditor. My Department is not involved.
Mr. Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) when his Department first became aware of each audit report in the public interest that has been issued since 1979 with reference to Lambeth council; and what action his Department has taken in each case; [18407]
(2) what discussions his Department has had with the district audit service of the Audit Commission with respect to each audit report issued in the public interest on the subject of Lambeth council; and what action his Department has taken on each of them. [18404]
Mr. Curry: Since 1979, 10 public interest reports have been issued by the district auditor at Lambeth. The Department became aware of them as public documents. It is the responsibility of the audited body to respond to public interest reports, and to take any necessary action. The Department has no direct role in the process.
Mr. Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when his Department first became aware of the contents of each management letter sent to Lambeth council since 1979; and what action his Department took in each case. [18403]
Mr. Curry: The management letter is not a public document, unless an authority chooses to make it so, and any consequent action is between the audited body and its appointed auditor. The auditor is prevented by law from disclosing to the Government or anyone else information obtained in the course of his or her duties.
Mr. Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the dates and nature of notices served on Lambeth council with reference to the management and accounts of the council direct labour organisation; and what was the response in each case. [18406]
Mr. Curry: On 22 March 1993, five notices were served on the authority for accounting deficiencies and failure to provide accounts. Overall, these notices covered building maintenance work, highway and sewer maintenance work, refuse collection, street cleaning,
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ground maintenance work, building cleaning and vehicle maintenance. Subsequently, four directions were issued to the authority on 23 July 1993. Their details are as follows:Building maintenance; to re-tender all the work by 1 April 1994 and seek the consent from the Secretary of State before assigning any of the work to its direct labour organisation; a prohibition on carrying out housing maintenance work being undertaken by the private sector; a prohibition on carrying out work on non-educational public buildings; and a complete prohibition from carrying out the work from 1 July 1994 unless outstanding accounts were provided by 31 December 1993. The work was re-tendered in 63 contracts, the authority obtained consent to assign 12 contracts to its direct labour organisation in March 1994 and the accounts were supplied.
Highway and sewer maintenance--a prohibition on carrying out the work from 1 April 1994 except for winter emergency work.
Refuse collection and street cleaning--a complete prohibition on carrying out the work from 1 July 1994 unless outstanding accounts were provided by 31 December 1993. The accounts were provided and the direct service organisation continues to undertake the work. Ground maintenance, building cleaning and vehicle maintenance--a complete prohibition on carrying out the work from 1 July 1994 unless outstanding accounts were provided by 31 December 1993. The accounts were provided and the direct service organisation continues to undertake the work.
On 28 February this year, two further notices were served on the authority for financial failure in respect of ground maintenance work and building cleaning in the year 1993 94. We have received the authority's responses and are considering whether to proceed to directions.
Water Industry
Mr. Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimates he has made of the proportion of profits obtained by the privatised water industry which have been (a) retained for investment in its core business, (b) distributed to shareholders and (c) invested in businesses other than the provision of water and sewerage services. [18561]
Mr. Atkins: This information is published in the annual reports and accounts of the individual water companies.
Mr. Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of whether the Regulator of the Water Industry has adequately protected the consumer interest; and if he will make a statement. [18562]
Mr. Atkins: The Director General of Water Services, Mr. Ian Byatt, has a statutory duty to ensure that the functions of water and sewerage companies are properly carried out and that they are able to finance these functions. He must also protect customers' interests, promote economy and efficiency and facilitate competition where appropriate. Mr. Byatt has carried out these duties successfully and effectively.
Unitary Development Plans
Mr. Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) to what extent draft unitary development plans should be taken account of in determining planning decisions and appeals; [18341] (2) what guidance he gives to (a) local authorities and (b) inspectors with delegated powers, where planning applications or appeals run counter to draft unitary development plans but are to be determined before the development plan process is finalised; [18342]
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(3) what action is open to local authorities where it appears that planning applications contrary to a draft unitary development plan are being submitted in an attempt to determine issues in advance of the UMP inquiry where this would have the effect of prejudging the inquiry. [18343]Sir Paul Beresford: The Department's policy is set out in paragraphs 32 34 of PPG1.
As far as possible, decisions should be taken in the light of current policies. However, it may be justifiable for a local planning authority to refuse planning permission when a development proposal raises matters that should be settled in the development plan context. The weight to be attached to a draft plan will increase as successive stages in the development plan process are reached, having regard to any conflicts with existing plans, and whether there are objections.
Prematurity cases call for careful judgment about the scale of the impact of the proposed development, and its significance in relation to the emerging development plan. The objective of our policy is to safeguard the development plan processes, while at the same time ensuring that development is not delayed without good cause.
Planning Appeals
Mr. Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what criteria he uses for deciding which planning appeals to delegate to inspectors; [18340]
(2) for what reasons he delegated to an inspector responsibility for the recent planning appeal at Oxclose farm, Sheffield. [18344]
Sir Paul Beresford: The Town and Country Planning Act 1990 transfers responsibility for determining appeals to planning inspectors unless the Secretary of State
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decides to intervene and recover jurisdiction. The criteria for recovering jurisdiction are set out in the Government's response to the fifth report from the Environment Committee, Session 1985 86, "Planning: Appeals, Call-In and Major Public Inquiries", Command 43. The proposal at Oxclose farm did not meet any of these recovery criteria. The appeal therefore remained to be determined by an inspector.Mr. Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what assessment he has made of whether the inspector's decision on the planning appeal at Oxclose farm, Sheffield, conforms to guidance notes PPG6 and PPG13; [18338]
(2) what assessment he has made of whether the introduction of guidance notes PPG6 and PPG13 in their current form made a difference to the outcome of the recent planning appeal at Oxclose farm, Sheffield. [18339]
Sir Paul Beresford: All inspectors are expected to take account of guidance notes PPG6 and PPG13 where they are relevant. It is established practice that I do not comment on individual cases.
Polling Organisations
Mr. Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 24 March, Official Report , column 365 , if he will list those polling organisations which have been employed by his Department and give in detail the research undertaken by those organisations. [18259]
Sir Paul Beresford: The information available is provided in the table below. The table lists all surveys of the public which were conducted in the two financial years 1993 94 and 1994 95 by external organisations employed by the Department of the Environment, and which included questions seeking public opinion.
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Title |Objectives |Fieldwork start date |Researchers
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Evaluation of `Right to Buy' Publicity Campaign |To evaluate publicity campaign |April 1993 |MORI
`Right to Buy' Campaign Evaluation-follow-up |Follow-up to above survey |May 1993 |MORI
stage
Helping the Earth Campaign Evaluation Research |To evaluate the `Helping the |July 1993 |BMRB
1993-94-Waves 4 and 5 |Earth' campaign
Landlords Research |To inform policy making |July 1993 |SCPR
Public Attitudes to the Environment |To inform policy |July 1993 |NOP
Customer Survey: Study of Appellants' and Local |To assess customer satisfaction |September 1993 |W. S. Atkins
Authorities' Experience of the Hearings System |with the hearings of appeals |Planning
|procedures |Consultants
Helping the Earth-Literature Evaluation |To evaluate literature campaign |September 1993 |MAI
Ventilation in Homes |To evaluate the effectiveness of Building Regulations |October 1993 |PAS
Helping the Earth Radio Campaign |To assess the effectiveness of |October 1993 |RSGB
|campaign
Rent Policies of LAs in England |To monitor and inform policy |November 1993 |Inlogov
The Nature of Demand for Housing in Rural Areas |To investigate people's housing |December 1993 |Birmingham
|experiences in rural areas |University
Flat Service Charges and Right to Buy |To monitor and inform policy |December 1993 |MORI
Monitoring the Actions of Failed Grant Applicants |To monitor and inform policy |January 1994 |PAS
Rent to Mortgage Leaflet follow-up |To establish tenants opinion and |February 1994 |NOP
|action taken towards buying
|their home
Public Attitudes to Planning (and Development) |To inform policy and promote the |February 1994 |Prism Research
|planning system
Helping the Earth Campaign, Pre and Post Monitor |To assess campaign effectiveness |February 1994 |COI
Study of Lodgers Scheme |To inform policy making on |March 1994 |The London Research
|Lodgers scheme |Centre
Recreational Cycling Market Research |To assess customer satisfaction |April 1994 |COI
Ventilation in Homes |To evaluate the effectiveness of |April 1994 |Public Attitudes
|Building Regulations |Surveys Ltd.
The Environmental Effects of Dust from Surface |To define reasonable dust levels |May 1994 |Over Arup and
Mineral Workings-pilot survey |Partners
Vacant Dwellings in the Private Sector |To determine the scope for |May 1994 |University of Wales
|bringing vacant dwellings back into |and MORI
|use
Home Improvement Agency Client Survey |To review the work of Home |June 1994 |SCPR
|Improvement Agencies
Research into the Role and Operation of Homes |To evaluate policy |August 1994 |MORI
`Wasting Energy Costs the Earth' Campaign |To establish attitudes to and |September 1994 |NOP
Evaluation |action on energy use in the
|home
The Environmental Effects of Production Blasting |To define reasonable working |September 1994 |Vibrock Ltd.
from Surface Mineral Workings (Pilot Survey) |levels for production blasting
Customer Survey: Study of Customer's experience |To assess customer satisfaction |October 1994 |W. S. Atkins
of the inquiry procedure |Planning
|Consultants
Review of Council's Tenants Charter |To assess customer awareness, |October 1994 |MORI
|views on contents
|and usefulness of the Councils
|Tenant's Charter
Houses in Multiple Occupation: Establishing |To assess customer satisfaction |November 1994 |Public Attitudes
Effective Local Authority Strategies |Surveys Ltd.
Testing the Planetary Caretaker Pack |To explore children's reactions to |March 1995 |NOP
|Environmental Information
|Packs
Disabled People (Access)
Mr. Barnes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will outline the measures taken, facilities offered and adjustments made in his Department and agencies for which he is responsible to facilitate access for disabled people; what plans he has to improve access; and if he will make a statement. [18588]
Sir Paul Beresford: The Department is committed to providing and improving access into and around its buildings for staff and visitors with disabilities. Where the physical characteristics of existing buildings allow, accommodation officers make arrangements to meet the specific needs of people with disabilities on advice from the departmental disabled persons officer.
Facilities already provided include wheelchair ramps, lifts with tactile buttons, car parking facilities and assistance where necessary. Induction loops are available for people with hearing difficulties and arrangements can also be made for sign language interpretation at meetings or interviews.
Green Policy
Ms Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which Minister attended when the green Ministers last met; which items were discussed; when they will next meet; and what items are on the agenda for that meeting. [18657]
Mr. Atkins: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment and I attended the last meeting in December 1994. The items discussed were:
the UK annual report 1995: "This Common Inheritance" (now published, Cm 2822), the town and country quality initiative, the Royal Commission on environmental pollution report on transport and the environment and the proposed rural White Paper. The UK round table on sustainable development and departmental green housekeeping strategies were also discussed.
A further meeting will be held shortly and the agenda is presently being considered.
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Ms Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will name the green Minister for his Department and list (a) the green initiatives taken by that Minister in respect of the Department's functions, (b) the representations made by the Minister in respect of functions carried out by other Departments and (c) the input made by the Minister into consultations on the Environment Bill. [18639]
Mr. Gummer: I am the principal green Minister for the Department of the Environment, but all my ministerial colleagues share our common objective of promoting sustainable development in all areas of national life.
"Sustainable Development: the UK Strategy", Cm 2426, presented to Parliament by the Prime Minister in January 1994, set out our overall approach to these issues, and lists large numbers of individual initiatives, objectives and targets. Progress on these has been reported more recently in "This Common Inheritance 1995", Cm 2822, published last month. Paragraphs 1.9 to 1.12 of that report list the following nine areas to which we are giving high priority this year together with the following priority aims for each one:
Climate Change: to review the objectives and measures in the UK's climate change programme, and to consider how it should be extended beyond 2000 so as to make an appropriate UK contribution to the global effort.
Air Quality: to implement an effective strategy for improving general levels of local air quality and for managing episodes of poor air quality on the basis of the strategic policies set out in "Air Quality: Meeting the Challenge".
Freshwater and the Sea: to maintain and where appropriate improve the quality of UK drinking water, rivers and bathing and coastal waters; and to participate constructively in European negotiations on the further improvement of drinking water (including on the issue of lead) and surface waters, and the protection of groundwater; while taking carefully into account what water consumers and others can reasonably afford.
Biodiversity: to develop the UK's biodiversity action plan into an effective programme for the protection of habitats and species, with specific costed targets for key habitats and species.
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Fish stocks: to examine options for improving the EC common fisheries policy taking account of the advice of the Government's panel on sustainable development, and to reflect on its recommendation for the establishment of an intergovernmental panel on the oceans;Waste : to carry forward public consultations on a new waste management strategy which would encourage everyone firstly to reduce waste and then to reuse or recycle, or recover energy in preference to disposing of waste, and to seek Parliament's approval for statute-based producer responsibility schemes for the reuse, recovery or recycling of products and materials.
Rural Development: in preparing rural White Papers for England and Scotland to take a fresh look at economic, social and environmental policies which impact on rural areas.
The Built Environment: to improve the quality of the built environment, to raise awareness that good design matters and is affordable and to help ease development pressure in particular by taking forward ideas prompted by the quality in town and country initiative.
Transport: recognising that unconstrained traffic growth would have unacceptable consequences in terms of pollution, carbon dioxide production, noise and disturbance, to develop appropriate national and local strategies and measures for reducing the need to travel and to encourage more sustainable and environmentally acceptable patterns of transport--focusing particularly on the recommendations of the Royal Commission on environmental pollution.
The whole Government are committed to the objective of sustainable development and I am in regular contact with all my colleagues on the implications of this, including in particular the Chancellor of the Exchequer; the Foreign Secretary; the Home Secretary; the Secretary of State for Transport; the President of the Board of Trade; the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food; and the Secretaries of State for Wales and Scotland.
I have taken the lead inside and outside Government in the preparations for the Environment Bill, and look forward to introducing it to the House of Commons shortly after Easter.
Social Index
Mr. Alton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the net gain or loss in Liverpool arising from its position on the social index; and what were the corresponding figures for Westminster and Wandsworth. [18943]
Mr. Robert B. Jones: The contributions of the combined economic and social indices to the 1995 96 standard spending assessments are: Liverpool: £12.411 million;
Westminster: £20.290 million;
Wandsworth: £10.305 million;
Mr. Alton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment where Liverpool ranks on the social index; and what rankings are given to (a) Westminster, (b) Wandsworth, (c) Bath, (d) Brighton and (e) Norwich. [18942]
Mr. Robert B. Jones: The ranking for the combined economic an social indices in 1995 96 are:
Liverpool 17
a) Westminster 12
b) Wandsworth 16
c) Bath 86
d) Brighton 29
e) Norwich 47
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