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Environmental Pollution Report
Ms Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what dates and on what matters, in connection with the 18th report of the Royal Commission on environmental pollution, "Transport and the Environment", he has made representations to the Secretary of State for Transport. [9095]
Mr. Horam: There have been many contacts between my Department and the Department of Transport concerning the Royal Commission report since its publication in October 1994, including several discussions at both official and ministerial level.
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HOUSE OF COMMONS
New Facilities
32. Mrs. Helen Jackson: To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, representing the House of Commons Commission, what new facilities are planned to be available after the next general election. [7473]
Mr. Beith: The major new facilities planned are the phase II new parliamentary building, which is due to open in 1999, and a visitors' centre in Westminster hall. In addition major improvements to existing facilities are planned including the improvement of access by disabled people, the refurbishment of the Refreshment Department and the installation of the parliamentary data and video network.
HMSO Privatisation
38. Mr. Miller: To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, representing the House of Commons Commission, what assessment the Commission has made of the effect of services to hon. and right hon. Members of the proposed privatisation of HMSO; and if he will make a statement. [7480]
Mr. Beith: The Commission's views are set out in the letter from the Speaker to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster which was published in Hansard on 11 December, columns 455-57. That letter laid down a number of safeguards which the Commission consider necessary to protect the interests of the House in the event of HMSO being privatised. The Commission will continue to take a close interest in the progress of preparatory work for privatisation. In particular we will want to be satisfied that the safeguards are adequately secured by the contract to be drawn up between the House and a privatised Stationery Office.
Legionnaire's Disease
Mrs. Clwyd: To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee if he will make a statement on the risk of legionnaire's disease in the parliamentary estate. [7485]
Mr. Michael J. Martin: I have been asked to reply.
The water systems throughout the parliamentary estate are regularly tested for the legionnella bacterium as part of routine maintenance work. This work also includes sterilisation of cooling towers and shower heads, and keeping the domestic hot water temperatures above the tolerance of the bacterium. The results of recent routine tests showed slightly raised levels which have been dealt with by pasteurisation and chemical sterilisation. It is also proposed to make minor changes to plumbing in remote areas to help maintain safe water temperatures.
Refreshment Facilities
Mr. Hain: To ask the Chairman of the Catering Committee what plans he has to upgrade refreshment facilities for large groups of visitors to the House. [7475]
Sir Colin Shepherd: On 12 July 1994, the House approved the first report of Session 1992-93 from the
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Catering Committee, "Refreshment provision for line of route visitors". One recommendation was that the area currently occupied by the Westminster hall cafeteria should be converted to a visitor centre, which would provide light refreshments for the public, but that this should only take place once a suitable alternative has been found for the present lunchtime users.
Although initial discussions between officials have been held regarding the proposed nature of a visitor centre, I do have to advise the hon. Member that some 500 people, mainly staff, have lunch daily in the Westminster hall cafeteria; the other outlets currently available to staff would not be able to accommodate the extra customers if the Westminster hall cafeteria was closed before the opening of the new cafeteria in the phase II parliamentary building, which I understand, will not be until 1999. It is therefore highly unlikely that a visitor centre could be open before then.
Privileges Committee
Mr. Alfred Morris: To ask the Lord President of the Council what contact, direct or indirect, he has had with the chairman of the Press Complaints Commission in regard to the findings of the Privileges Committee in its first report for the session 1994-95 as they affect the Sunday Times and the Committee's call for further examination by the commission of the complaint made against that newspaper; what developments there have been since the Privileges Committee's findings were published; and if he will make a statement. [8593]
Mr. Newton: At his request, I met my right hon. and noble Friend the Lord Wakeham, chairman of the Press Complaints Commission, on Monday 20 November 1995 to discuss progress on this matter. Lord Wakeham has recently written to me, as Chairman of the Committee of Privileges, reporting on the position. I have arranged for copies of his letter to be placed in the Library of the House of Commons.
NATIONAL HERITAGE
Playing Fields
Mr. Hargreaves: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when she will be in a position to consult on the proposal contained in the Government's policy statement "Sport: Raising the Game" that the Sports Council should be given the status of a statutory consultee on planning proposals affecting playing fields. [9684]
Mr. Sproat: The Government are seriously concerned at the loss of playing fields. We attach high priority to ensuring that people have access to a range of high quality sports facilities. There is a clear need to improve consultation between the Sports Council and local planning authorities whenever proposals for the development of playing fields arise. We are, therefore, issuing today, jointly with the Department of the Environment, a consultation paper on the proposal that the Sports Council should become a statutory consultee on planning proposals affecting all playing fields, not only those used by schools.
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TRADE AND INDUSTRY
EU Energy Council
Sir Michael Grylls: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Energy Council meeting on 20 December 1995. [8692]
Mr. Eggar: The Council considered several issues and received reports on matters of interest. I represented the United Kingdom. Progress was made in a number of areas. In particular, political agreement was reached on a proposed directive on energy efficiency standards for fridges and freezers, the aim of which is to establish minimum standards and thus help to limited CO 2 emissions. The directive provides for a 15 per cent. reduction in electricity consumption for all new models over three years.
The Council also adopted a common position on the Commission's proposed regulation on the registration of crude oil imports.
It was not possible to reach a common position on the electricity liberalisation proposal. Ministers agreed however that there had been a convergence of positions during the Spanish presidency and that work should be continued during the Italian presidency with a view to possible agreement early in 1996.
The Council considered a Commission proposal for the repeal and/or simplification of several EU legislative measures in the energy efficiency, oil and gas sub-sectors. In particular, political agreement was reached on a Commission proposal to simplify regulation 1056/72 on the notification of investments.
Also, the Council received presentations/reports from the Commission on a number of items. These included a presentation of its energy policy White Paper; a report on gas supply and prospects to 2020; and its proposal for a second SAVE programme, aimed at encouraging best use of energy efficiency technology.
The presidency gave a progress report on informal contacts with the European Parliament on Energy TENs prior to the convening of the conciliation committee. Progress reports were also given on the energy charter treaty, SYNERGY and on the energy aspects of the Barcelona Euro-Med conference.
Sir Michael Grylls:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Industry Council held on 20 December 1995. [8691]
Mr. Eggar:
The meeting examined further a Commission proposal to authorise the payment of exceptional state aid for Irish Steel under article 95 of the ECSC treaty. This matter was previously discussed by the Council on 7 November 1995, when the Government declined to agree the proposal in view of concerns about possible adverse effects on the United Kingdom steel industry.
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