30 Nov 1995 : Column: 797
Written Answers to Questions
Thursday 30 November 1995
ENVIRONMENT
Building Research Establishment
Mr. Raynsford: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what considerations have led him to set out the timetable for consultants to complete their tasks set out in the privatisation options study outline requirements; and if he will make a statement. [2433]
Mr. Robert B. Jones: The timetable for consultants to complete the study of privatisation options for the Building Research Establishment was set to be demanding but feasible for the completion of a wide-ranging and thorough project. It is in the interests of BRE's customers and staff for any uncertainty about the organisation's future to be kept to as short a period as practicable. All the consultants who were invited to submit tenders were able to comply with the maximum duration specified.
Mr. Raynsford: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what date he has specified for the return of bids by consultants on the Building Research Establishment privatisation options study. [2408]
Mr. Jones: The bids for the consultants invited to tender for the study of the options for transferring the Building Research Establishment to the private sector were returned by 20 November.
The Department is today appointing P. A. Consulting to carry out the study.
Mr. Raynsford:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whom he proposes to appoint to the advisory group to which consultants will be expected to report on options for the privatisation of the Building Research Establishment. [2402]
Mr. Jones:
The advisory group for the study on the options for transferring the Building Research Establishment to the private sector will be chaired by the deputy secretary housing and construction. The members will include three senior industry representatives, an official representing the Treasury, the chief executive of BRE and the departmental team responsible for the consultancy project.
Mr. Redmond:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list for each of his executive agencies for the last financial year in respect of overseas travel by agency staff (a) the costs of the travel, (b) the countries visited and (c) the posts held by the staff concerned. [2290]
Sir Paul Beresford:
The information can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
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Mr. Jim Cunningham:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the timetable for proposals from his Department in respect of small rural businesses; and what joint initiative he proposes in conjunction with the Department of Trade and Industry. [2575]
Mr. Clappison:
The White Paper "Rural England" published in October by my Department and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food outlined a number of measures intended to help small businesses in rural areas.
We expect to publish before the end of this year a guide for local planning authorities to promote good practice in planning for rural diversification. In the new year, we will be consulting on proposals for a rural business use class and on a draft revision of planning policy guidance note 7, "The Countryside and the Rural Economy".
In my role as departmental Minister for small businesses, I will continue to work closely with colleagues in other Government Departments, including the Department of Trade and Industry, to ensure that our policies benefit all small firms, including those in rural areas.
Mr. Steinberg:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much has been raised from the sales of council homes in the City of Durham constituency to date; and how much the City of Durham council has available in capital receipts from these sales. [2496]
Sir Paul Beresford:
The total cash receipts from the sale of all council dwellings in the City of Durham between April 1980 and March 1995, as reported by the authority, is almost £37 million. In addition, authority loans of almost £1 million were issued to finance council house sales. At 31 March 1995, the authority had £0.3 million in accumulated usable capital receipts from all assets. The level of outstanding debt of the City of Durham at that date was £49 million.
Mr. Jim Cunningham:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the extent of rural homelessness and the measures he will be introducing to tackle it. [2647]
Mr. Clappison:
The data which my Department collects from local authorities about households accepted as statutorily homeless do not differentiate between households from rural and non-rural areas.
The Housing Corporation's approved development programme funds new social housing in rural and non-rural areas. In 1995-96, some 6 per cent. of the corporation's new development programme is providing social housing in rural areas--defined as settlements with a population of 3,000 or less.
My Department has commissioned research into the nature of demand for housing in rural areas. The results are expected in 1996.
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Mr. Jim Cunningham:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to devolve more power from local authorities to parish councils and to ensure accountability for parish councils. [2646]
Sir Paul Beresford:
The rural White Paper states our intention to legislate for a formal consultative framework between principal and local councils. It also proposes that certain crime prevention powers which principal authorities have under existing legislation should be extended to parish and town councils, and that they should be given additional powers relating to community transport. We are currently consulting interested parties about those proposals.
A consultation paper has proposed regulations which strengthen accounting and audit requirements for the majority of parishes. Like other local authorities, parish and town councils are independent elected bodies, accountable to their electorate, their auditor and, where necessary, to the courts for the conduct of their business.
Mr. Jim Cunningham:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent discussions he has had with his counterparts across Europe to discuss strategy for a Europe-wide rural regeneration scheme. [2639]
Mr. Clappison:
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State keeps in regular contact with his European counterparts to discuss matters of mutual interest.
Mr. Jim Cunningham:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidelines his Department gives to local authorities in relation to safeguarding essential services in sparsely populated rural areas. [2648]
Mr. Clappison:
The Department is acutely aware of the need to ensure adequate service provision in sparsely populated rural areas. The Department's standard spending assessment, which calculates the revenue support grant for local authorities, already allows for the additional cost of delivering some services in sparsely populated rural areas.
The rural White Paper "Rural England" recognises that local authorities have a significant impact on the quality of life in rural areas and therefore encourages them to prepare rural strategies that identify local rural needs and develop policies to meet. Guidance and advice is provided by the three countryside agencies sponsored by this Department.
The recently launched rural services checklist which was announced in the rural White Paper encourages service providers to take account of the particular needs of their customers. Prepared in consultation with service providers and circulated to local authorities, it helps service providers meet the various needs of their rural customers.
The Department provides guidance to local authorities on housing strategies, stressing the need for those local authorities with a significant rural population to develop specific rural housing policies as part of their housing programme. The Department also issues guidance to local
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authorities on the administration of the non domestic rates hardship relief scheme for village shops and post offices. This will be reviewed shortly and further guidance issued.
Mr. Thomason:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what account he will take of the cost to environmental technology manufacturers in terms of lost business and the international competitiveness of the four year revision of all chief inspectors guidance notes and process guidance notes. [3112]
Mr. Clappison:
Manufacturers of environmental technology have benefited significantly from the introduction of the systems of integrated pollution control and air pollution control under part I of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
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