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Local Government Finance
Mr. Tyler: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much each local authority received per head through central Government grants in 1994 95. [36732]
Sir Paul Beresford: I have placed the information in the Library of the House.
Mr. Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the total standard spending assessment funding allocated to each English and Welsh county for this financial year. [36768]
Sir Paul Beresford: The requested information for English counties is available in the Library. The standard spending assessments for authorities in Wales are the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Wales.
Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will discuss with Staffordshire fire service the effects of the revised standard spending assessment calculation on fire service operations; and if he will make a statement. [37037]
Sir Paul Beresford: Shortly after the Budget, we will consult on our proposals for the local government finance Settlement for 1996 97. We are willing to discuss our proposals with any authority at that stage, so far as time permits.
Birds
Mr. Hinchliffe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he will take to stop the decline in population of (a) song thrushes, (b) bullfinches, (c) lapwings, (d) reed buntings, (e) grey partridges, (f) tree sparrows and (g) turtle doves; and if he will make a statement. [36904]
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Mr. Clappison: A number of steps are being taken by my Department, and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to help in the recovery of these species. These include:
Habitats beneficial to these species are included in the sites of special scientific interest and special protection areas classified under the EC birds directive.
Agri-environment schemes developed under EC regulations, stewardship and woodland grant schemes encourage farming practices which help conserve habitat important to farmland birds;
Targets for the conservation of habitats to be developed under the UK biodiversity action plan;
Funding research and development projects on the effect of farming techniques on farmland bird populations;
Sponsorship of Royal Society for the Protection of Birds projects to provide practical information on farmland birds for farmers, their advisors and others.
Mr. Hinchliffe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he can take to increase the number of breeding pairs of (a) corncrake and (b) stone curlew on the British Isles. [36942]
Mr. Clappison: Since 1991, the Government have been involved in schemes in Scotland to provide financial incentives to landowners and farmers to introduce farming methods which are more conducive to breeding corncrakes. The Government are also working with landowners to protect nesting stone curlews on arable land in Wessex and East Anglia.
The biodiversity steering group is expected to advise the Government on action plans for the corncrake and stone curlew to improve their conservation status. The steering group will report later this year.
Mr. Hinchliffe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what financial support he will make available to the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds towards its song thrush research project. [36941]
Mr. Clappison: Although we are not planning to give financial support to this project, my Department is currently negotiating with contractors on research to assess whether the use of herbicides and insecticides on agricultural land be contributing to the decline in the number of certain UK species, including song thrushes, and to provide information about the impact of pesticides on bird populations.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food also funds research related to farmland birds.
Private Finance Initiative
Mr. Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the rights of individual members of the public to make complaints to any of the appropriate ombudsman about services or projects funded through the private finance initiative through his Department. [36833]
Sir Paul Beresford: Members of the public have the same rights to make complaints of alleged maladministration to the relevant ombudsman concerning a Department of the Environment project which is privately financed as they would have had if the project had been publicly financed.
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Outsourcing Contracts
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many outsourcing contracts were granted by his Department or agencies in each year since 1990, indicating the nature and value of each contract; and if any additional work was added and of what value to (a) Hoskyns/Cap Gemini Segeti, (b) AT and T Istel, (c) EDS, (d) Sema Group, (e) Datasolve, (f) ITN Net, (g) Andersen Consulting, (h) Centre File, (i) BIS, (j) Telecom Capita, (k) ICL, (l) Digital Equipment, (m) CFM, (n) Siemens, (o) Nixdorf, (p) CMG, and (q) Logica. [36965]
Sir Paul Beresford: This information is not held centrally by my Department and to collect it would involve a disproportionate cost.
Water
Mr. Spearing: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration he gave and what (a) statutory and (b) other bodies he consulted concerning the impact on personal health and hygiene and public health, particularly on children, the elderly and the sick, of his policy to encourage the use of water meters for domestic premises; and if he will place the relevant documents in the Library. [37369]
Mr. Clappison: The Department of the Environment and the Office of Water Services commissioned a survey on "The Social Impact of Water Metering" the report of which was published in August 1992. A copy of the report is in the Library. The views of a wide range of organisations were sought in the Department's consultation paper "Using Water Wisely" published in July 1992. A copy of this document and a list of the organisations which responded to it are available in the Library.
Mr. Spearing: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the approximate revenue cost per given annual volume of water lost by leakage from (a) high and (b) low pressure water mains at which it becomes non-economic to eliminate such leakage, using average or median national costs for producing potable public supplies. [37337]
Mr. Clappison: The economic cost of leakage varies significantly, not only between companies but also within each company's operating area. An average national figure would not be meaningful.
Mr. Spearing: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to annex B, paragraph 8 of his document "Water Conservation; Government Action", what were the methodology and assumptions used; and what is the range of cost/value calculations he has used in determining his public targets for reduction by water companies in leakage for their mains distribution system. [37370]
Mr. Clappison: The Government does not at present propose to set mandatory leakage targets. The water companies themselves are in the best position to judge costs and benefits of leakage control. It will be for the Director General of Water Services to negotiate demanding voluntary leakage targets which take account of varying local circumstances.
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Mr. Spearing: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what (a) advice has been issued and (b) regulations have been made by her Majesty's Government concerning the desirability of fitting of cisterns in domestic premises for the continued supply of water for hygiene and hot water systems during interruptions in mains supply. [37274]
Mr. Clappison: Section 66 of the Water Industry Act 1991 allows water undertakers to require certain properties to be provided with a cistern. In the case of a relevant house, the cistern should be capable of holding sufficient water to provide an adequate supply for a period of 24 hours.
Except in an emergency, a water undertaker may cut off a supply of water to any premises for the purposes of carrying out any necessary works only after having served reasonable notice on the consumer. If any supply of water to those premises for domestic purposes is interrupted for more than 24 hours for the purposes of carrying out those works then the water undertaker has a duty to the consumer to provide an emergency supply of water within a reasonable distance of the premises.
Mr. Spearing: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate the mean daily evaporation rates from free water surfaces of reservoirs and rivers over a given period for known locations in England and Wales for an appropriate period of summer drought. [37368]
Mr. Clappison: Standard hydrological textbooks provide the equations, and the Meterological Office reports the data, from which estimates of free water evaporation can be made.
Mr. Spearing: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment following his conclusions in paragraph 29 of his White Paper, "Water Conservation, Government Action", that reduction in the need for additional capital investment in supply of water leads to consequential savings of cost for consumers, what are (a) nationally and (b) on a local basis the appropriate percentages of water charges that have been devoted to such investment (i) by undertakings which were previously regional water authorities and (ii) other water companies. [37382]
Mr. Clappison: Between 1989 90 and 1994 95 the water industry's investment on water resource development was about 5 per cent. of total investment on the water service during this period. Water company capital programmes may be funded by a combination of debt or equity finance and retained profits. Information on the percentage of water charges that has been devoted by the various water companies to this resource development is not held centrally.
Mr. Spearing: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the names or descriptions of the relevant statutory or non- statutory bodies now fulfilling the duties, including reportage, of (a) the former National Water Council and (b) the former regional water authorities, as specified in sections 4 and 24 respectively of the Water Act 1973 before their replacement or repeal later. [37276]
Mr. Clappison: The Water Act 1983 provided for the dissolution of the National Water Council, which was primarily a consultative and advisory body on matters
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relating to national water policy, and for its functions to cease by order of the Secretary of State. Subsequently, water authorities established their own non-statutory body, the Water Authorities Association--now the Water Services Association--to promote their interests nationally and to inform consumers about their activities. Following the reorganisation of the water industry in England and Wales in 1989, the functions of the former water authorities are now largely undertaken by a combination of the National Rivers Authority, the drinking water inspectorate and the successor water and sewerage companies themselves.Mr. Spearing: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what support from public funds, by nature and amount, ceased to be available to the former regional water authorities in England and Wales in privatisation. [37270]
Mr. Clappison: Water companies ceased to have access to the national loans fund on privatisation. The amounts borrowed would have varied annually depending upon their capital requirements. They continue to be eligible to apply for Government grants and support from European funds for qualifying schemes.
Mr. Spearing: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will request the relevant bodies, agencies or organisations concerned with the conservation, purification and distribution of potable water supplies in England and Wales to prepare a report on national water resources, taking into account circumstances of the winter of 1976 and those of the summer of 1995; [37367]
(2) what is the general increase in demand for potable water supplies in periods of summer drought over average summer consumption (a) for each of the principal water regions and (b) nationally; and what assessment he has made of the purposes to which that extra demand is put. [37365]
Mr. Clappison: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment announced on 1 September that the Department will be conducting a review of all aspects of legislation, planning, organisation and preparation for droughts. This will include consideration of changes in patterns of demand for water which have happened or which seem likely, and will involve all the interests concerned.
Sewers (Rodent Infestation)
Mr. Spearing: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what statutory powers he exercises over suppliers of water disposal services in respect of levels of rodent infestation in sewers; where standards relating to such infestation are publicised; and what powers elected authorities or district health authorities possess to inspect and enforce levels of infestation. [37268]
Mr. Clappison: There is no specific duty on water and sewerage companies in relation to the control of rats in sewers. However, all sewerage undertakers have programmes to control and reduce the number of rats in their systems. Local authorities have a long-standing duty to keep themselves informed about the sufficiency of drainage systems in their area to ensure that they do not pose a threat to public health. Failure to control rat
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infestations on property could be enforceable by the local authority environmental health officer under part III of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, if it is judged to be a statutory nuisance.Mobile Fresh Water Tanks
Mr. Spearing: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what statutory or other requirements have been made by Her Majesty's Government to require water companies to have available a given number of mobile fresh water tanks, wheeled or otherwise, related to the numbers of population served; and what national arrangement it has made for supplying of such equipment in emergencies. [37281]
Mr. Clappison: Water companies have a duty under the Security Measures (Water and Sewerage Undertakers) Direction 1989 to have plans in place to ensure the provision of essential water supplies at all times. The direction also requires that the water companies shall provide such facilities, including works, plant and equipment, as will secure the implementation of these plans, which should be mutually complimentary and co-ordinated between the companies.
Urban Renewal Grants
Mr. Rooker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will extend the urban renewal grant repayment conditions in the case of a dwelling where the grant recipient dies within the statutory three years and the dwelling is then sold by a new owner. [37113]
Sir Paul Beresford: We propose to extend the house renovation grant repayment conditions to cover such cases at the next suitable legislative opportunity.
Fire Authorities (Coastline Factor)
Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what evidence he has that fire authorities with a coastline incur extra costs from the coastline factor. [37036]
Sir Paul Beresford: The measure of coastline was introduced into the fire SSA formula in 1995 96 to reflect additional costs that authorities with coastline face compared with inland authorities. Authorities situated on the coast have less scope than inland authorities for drawing reinforcements from neighbouring brigades and therefore need greater self- sufficiency to provide the same standard of service as other local authorities.
Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from fire services adversely affected by the inclusion of the coastline indicator in the standard spending assessment calculation for fire services. [37035]
Sir Paul Beresford: During consultation on the 1995 96 local government finance settlement, the Secretary of State for the Environment received two representations from local authorities concerning the use of a coastline factor in the fire standard spending assessment. Other representations have been received subsequently.
Urban Development Areas
Mr. Spearing: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer concerning
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employment in urban development areas, Official Report, 18 July, column 1427-28 , how many of the 63,025 jobs quoted for the London docklands area existed in the same, or equivalent form outside that area prior to the re-location of the enterprises or services concerned.Sir Paul Beresford: The London Docklands development corporation does not hold records which enable an analysis of gross jobs in the way requested.
Canary Wharf
Mr. Spearing: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much has been contributed (a) item by item (b) in toto by public funds to the infrastructure serving the complex of the Canary wharf project; and what is this figure as a proportion of the estimated current freehold value of the property, or the highest public offer extant, together with the purchase price of the site from the Port of London Authority and its selling price to the first Canary Wharf Company. [37332]
Sir Paul Beresford: Public spending on infrastructure serving the Canary wharf area totals £44.5 million and is broken down as follows:
|£ million
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
West Ferry Road Phase 1 Heron Quays Roundabout |5.3
Canary Wharf Eastern Access Road |22.3
West Ferry Road Electricity sub-station and National
Grid Enhancement |16.9
Of course, all infrastructure expenditure by the London Docklands development corporation brings regeneration benefits to the economy and attractiveness of the docklands overall. Isolating separate areas of expenditure and attributing it to particular projects distorts its significance and broader benefits.
No valuation of the current freehold value of the Canary wharf complex is available.
The LDDC acquired land within the Canary wharf site from the Port of London Authority as part of a package deal--including water areas--and no separate breakdown of the land value is available. Of the 72 acre site purchased by Olympia and York, about 22 acres of land and 21 acres of water were in LDDC's ownership and these were sold for £8 million cash plus £12 million towards additional infrastructure.
Countryside Commission
Mr. Bennett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much was spent on advertising the post of chairman of the Countryside Commission; what was the cost of employing St. James Management Recruitment; what other costs were involved in making the appointment; and if Mr. Simmonds applied for the post. [37386]
Mr. Clappison: The total cost of employing St. James's Management Recruitment was some £31,000, of which some £8,000 represented advertising costs. The other costs involved in making the appointment relate to the time spent on the recruitment process by Ministers and officials in the Department, for which figures are not available. Mr. Simmonds did not apply but was approached by St. James's.
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Biodiversity Convention
Mr. Spearing: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what statutory, or other, consultations are being initiated by Her Majesty's Government with statutory and other bodies in fulfilment of obligations arising from (a) the biodiversity convention and (b) legislation of the European Community consequent on the biodiversity convention. [37275]
Mr. Clappison: The Government have consulted widely in the development of the UK biodiversity action plan which was produced in accordance with article 6 of the biodiversity convention. The publication of the plan in January 1994 followed a consultation involving some 300 organisations, including a two-day seminar in May 1993. In June 1995, a biodiversity steering group was established to advise Government on taking forward the plan. The group includes representatives from central and local government, the statutory conservation agencies, industry, the national collections and academia, landowners and land managers and the voluntary conservation bodies. It will publish a report in December and a Government response is planned early in the new year. Copies of both documents will be placed in the Library.
The UK delegation to the first meeting of the conference of the Parties to the Biodiversity Convention held consultation meetings with interested parties both before and during the meeting in Nassau last year. This approach is being repeated in preparation for the second conference next month in Jakarta.
The Government issued a public consultation paper in October 1993 about the legal transposition of the EU habitats directive. The Conservation (Natural Habitats & C.) Regulations 1994, approved by Parliament in October 1994, were prepared in the light of the consultation. In March this year, the Government consulted interested parties on a list of possible special areas of conservation under the directive. Similar consultation takes place before the classification of special protection areas under the birds directive.
Basking Sharks
Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to include basking sharks on the list of endangered species; and if he will make a statement. [37038]
Mr. Clappison: The basking shark has been considered for protection under the Wildlife Countryside Act 1981 on two previous occasions but there was insufficient evidence to support protection. The Joint Nature Conservation Committee, the Government's statutory conservation adviser, is currently considering which species should be recommended for protection under the Wildlife and Countryside Act as part of the third quinquennial review. The case for the basking shark is being reviewed, but it is too early to say whether the evidence will result in the species being protected.
Water Companies (Share Value)
Mr. Spearing: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the (a) total and (b) percentage increase in the capital value of those publicly owned
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assets, now privatised, on the basis of share capital at the time of issue and valuation on total share value at a given date during 1995. [37366]Mr. Clappison: Information on the market capitalisation at floatation of the 10 water holding companies in England and Wales, is contained in the National Audit Office report "Department of the Environment: Sale of the Water Authorities in England and Wales", a copy of which is in the Library. Current share values vary daily according to fluctuations in the stock market and this information is not held by my Department.
Industrial Estates
Mr. Thurnham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many industrial estates are owned by local authorities; and what is the total value of such estates. [37132]
Sir Paul Beresford: The Department's records show that between 260 and 290 local authorities have an interest in industrial estates and that the total value of these industrial estates is in the region of £750 million to £1,000 million.
City of London Common Council
Mr. Rooker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received
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regarding the abolition of the Alderman's veto and extension of the franchise in the City of London; and if he will make astatement. [37112]
Sir Paul Beresford: We have received one such representation. We have no plans to reform the arrangements for election to the common council.
Commercial Leases (Rent Reviews)
Mr. Fraser: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress is being made in the development and publication of a code of practice in relation to rent reviews in commercial leases. [37120]
Mr. Clappison: The commercial property industry and professional bodies are now completing their discussions on the code, and plan to publish it before the end of the year.
Rateable Values
Mr. Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the average change in rateable values between 1990 and 1995 for (a) commercial and (b) industrial properties for each region in England. [37136]
Sir Paul Beresford: The latest information I have is as follows:
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Percentage Region |Shops |Offices |Warehouses|Factories |Other ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Northern |+28 |+48 |+41 |+26 |+18 Yorkshire and Humberside |+26 |+55 |+35 |+24 |+21 East Midlands |+24 |+34 |+21 |+18 |+20 East Anglia |+16 |+14 |+14 |+4 |+18 Inner London |-16 |-58 |-12 |-10 |-11 Outer London |+10 |-4 |+7 |-2 |+14 Rest of South East |+8 |-12 |+3 |-3 |+12 South West |+12 |+13 |+14 |+6 |+17 West Midlands |+32 |+55 |+49 |+35 |+28 North West |+35 |+49 |+44 |+29 |+22
Fair Rents
Mr. Raynsford: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he proposes to introduce (a) amending legislation, (b) revised guidance to rent officers and rent assessment committees or (c) any other action to reverse the effect of the Court of Appeal judgment on the use of comparables in setting fair rents in the case of Spath Holme Ltd. v. Greater Manchester and Lancashire Rent Assessment Committee. [37488]
Mr. Clappison: The statutory basis on which fair rents are determined is set out in section 70 of the Rent Act 1977, which consolidated the Rent Act 1968. In essence, a fair rent is what a landlord could achieve in a market in which the supply of, and demand for, accommodation are in balance--that is, in the absence of scarcity. This has been the understanding since fair rents were introduced, and the judgment of the Court of Appeal does nothing to change that. We therefore do not propose to legislate to change the current statutory basis.
The Secretary of State does not issue guidance to rent officers and rent assessment committees to seek to influence them in the exercise of their independent statutory jurisdiction, and it would be wrong to do so.
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Employment Trends (Effect on Mortgage)
Mr. Spearing: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will initiate studies concerning the impact of the spread of employment by short-term contract instead of permanent contracts of employment, on the ability of persons and families to obtain mortgages for the purchase of homes. [37334]
Mr. Clappison: My Department has no current proposals for studies concerned specifically with the impact of labour market changes on the mortgage/housing market. However, employment trends figure prominently in many housing research areas and in our discussions with mortgage lenders.
NATIONAL HERITAGE
Heritage Funds
2. Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans she has to encourage the distribution of heritage funds to those areas which receive none at present. [35899]
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Mrs. Virginia Bottomley: I want to see the widest possible distribution of heritage funds, whether for grant in aid or the proceeds of the national lottery. Already the lottery has made possible a total of 1,405 grant awards the length and breadth of the United Kingdom, with a total value of over £543 million.
Sport in Schools
12. Dr. Goodson-Wickes: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what responses she has received about the Prime Minister's proposals for sport in schools. [35909]
Mr. Sproat: The Prime Minister, the Secretary of State and I have received 23 letters from hon. Members and 252 from members of the public commenting on aspects of the policy statement "Sport: Raising the Game." Some 68,000 copies of the statement have now been distributed, many in direct response to requests from members of the public. The response has been overwhelmingly positive and we welcome any ideas that emanate as a result of publication of the statement.
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