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Wild Animal Imports
Mr. Tony Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what number and species of terrapins have been imported under the provisions of the convention on international trade in endangered species since 1990. [10154]
Mr. Clappison [holding answer 22 January 1996]: Only one species of terrapin listed in CITES has been imported into the United Kingdom since 1990. Two hundred specimens of Pelomedusa subrufra--Marsh terrapin--were imported in 1991, and 10 in 1995.
Mr. Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many dangerous wild animals as defined by statute were imported into the United Kingdom during 1995; and how many exotic animals and reptiles were imported. [10156]
Mr. Clappison [holding answer 22 January 1996]: In 1995, 2,250 live specimens of species listed on the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976, as amended, were imported into the United Kingdom.
Total figures for the import of exotic species are not available. In 1994--the latest year for which data are available--43,495 specimens of live animals, including reptiles, listed under the convention on international trade in endangered species were imported into the UK.
Mr. Banks:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many American box turtles were imported into the United Kingdom in 1995. [10155]
Mr. Clappison
[holding answer 22 January 1996]: Six Coahuila box turtles--Terrapene coahuila--were imported into the United Kingdom in 1995.
Ms Ruddock:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much money was made available to local authorities through supplementary credit approvals with respect to recycling projects in each year since 1991-92, and the amount which is forecast to be made available to local authorities in each of the next three years. [10351]
Mr. Curry
[holding answer 22 January 1996]: Provision for the recycling supplementary credit approval programme was £12 million for 1991-92, £15 million for each of the next three years, and is £16.4 million for 1995-96. Planned provision for 1996-97 is £10 million. In addition, from next year local recycling initiatives are likely to benefit from expenditure by environmental trusts established in consequence of the landfill tax as well as from increased industry funding as a consequence of the producer responsibility for packaging initiative. With regard to 1997-98 and beyond, as my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State explained in his statement on the rate support grant on 30 November 1995, Official Report, column 1338, we will shortly be consulting on the scope for bringing challenge funding more broadly to bear on local authority capital spending in future years, including SCAs for recycling. This should give greater scope for
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authorities that are keen to make major investment in recycling infrastructure, alongside the growing activities of industry and voluntary groups.
Mrs. Helen Jackson:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what impact the last revaluation of rateable values of non-domestic premises for unified business rate purposes has had on bills for sewerage, drainage and water issued by sewerage undertakers in areas where sewerage and water services are provided by separate companies. [10457]
Mr. Clappison
[holding answer 22 January 1996]: Most sewerage undertakers use the general rating valuation list as at 31 March 1990 for charging unmeasured non-domestic premises. For those few companies that use the unified business rate as a basis of charging for water, sewerage and drainage, the impact on bills would vary from customer to customer.
Mrs. Helen Jackson:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now publish the inspector's report of the public inquiry held into the drought in Yorkshire in November. [10769]
Mr. Clappison
[holding answer 22 January 1996]: Copies of the inspector's report are available by applying to the Government office for Yorkshire and Humberside, PO Box 213, City house, New Station street, Leeds LS1 4JU.
Mr. Morley:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the environmental impact on the Lower Derwent valley of the proposed River Derwent emergency drought order. [10734]
Mr. Clappison
[holding answer 22 January 1996]: The hearing arranged to consider the application and the objections to it was postponed at Yorkshire Water's request. When the hearing takes place, the environmental impact will be one of the issues to be considered by the inspector in preparing his report.
Ms Ruddock:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how the final draft minerals planning guidance note 1 "General Considerations and the Development Plan System" was modified by the results of the environmental appraisal undertaken by his Department; [10605]
(3) what procedures have been put in place by his Department to monitor the environmental impacts arising from the implementation of the final draft minerals
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(4) what alternative courses of action from those detailed in the final draft minerals planning guidance note 1 "General Considerations and the Development Plan System" were considered in the environmental appraisal undertaken by his Department. [10604]
Mr. Robert B. Jones:
"Policy Appraisal and the Environment" sets out an approach whereby environmental effects can be taken into account in policy development, while recognising that this will vary from case to case depending on the complexity and significance of the impacts. Minerals planning guidance note 1, general considerations and the development plan system, sets out the Government's policy on various issues concerning planning for minerals in England, including how policies for mineral extraction can be more consistent with the principles of sustainable development. This is being revised and developed following widespread consultation on a draft. It seeks to strike a balance between the aim of ensuring a supply of minerals and the need to protect the environment and conserve minerals as far as possible.
The final draft consultation document includes many modifications to the first draft reflecting the views expressed by environmental organisations and others. I do not intend to publish a separate environmental appraisal in addition to the draft advice already published and the final guidance when completed. The Government will monitor the effectiveness of the policy guidance through regular liaison with minerals planning authorities and other bodies and the Deparment's research programme.
Ms Ruddock:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if (a) the forthcoming housing discussion paper, (b) draft planning policy guidance note "Countryside and the Rural Economy", (c) the forthcoming annual review of the United Kingdom sustainable development strategy and (d) the forthcoming draft planning policy guidance note 1 "General Policy and Principles" will be subject to an environmental appraisal in accordance with the guidance contained in his document "Policy Appraisal and the Environment"; and if he will make a statement. [10617]
Mr. Clappison:
(a) No. The housing discussion paper is a consultation document. (b) and (d) environmental impacts are being fully considered during the revision of PPG7, "The Countryside and the Rural Economy", and PPG1, "General Policy and Principles". (c) No. "This Common Inheritance: UK annual report 1996" will not itself set new policies. I fully endorse the need for environmental impacts to be taken into account in the development of new policy.
Ms Ruddock:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if the White Paper "Making Waste Work" has been subject to an environmental appraisal using the guidance contained in his Department's document "Policy Appraisal and the Environment"; and if he will publish the appraisal; [10599]
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(3) what alternative courses of action from those detailed in the White Paper "Making Waste Work" were considered in the environmental appraisal undertaken by his Department; [10600]
(4) how the White Paper "Making Waste Work" was modified by the results of the environmental appraisal undertaken by his Department. [10601]
Mr. Clappison:
It would not have been appropriate to undertake an environmental appraisal, using the guidance contained in "Policy Appraisal and the Environment", in relation to the White Paper "Making Waste Work". The White Paper sets out our strategy for achieving more sustainable waste management and includes a range of waste management practices. It emphasises that the choice of a waste management method for a particular waste stream will be guided by the principle of using the best practicable environmental option which would take into account both the environmental and economic costs and benefits of different methods of waste management.
Indeed, such an appraisal could be undertaken only on the basis of reliable statistical information which is equally true of monitoring environmental impacts. The White Paper acknowledges that much of the necessary information is not readily available or is available with insufficient precision to enable reliable estimates to be made. An important part of the waste strategy is, therefore, to ensure that better information relating to waste is available and the White Paper sets out how this will be achieved.
Ms Ruddock:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if the forthcoming rural White Paper, annual review, will be subject to an environmental appraisal in accordance with the guidance contained in "Policy Appraisal and the Environment", published by the Department of the Environment; and if he will publish the environmental appraisal. [10616]
Mr. Clappison:
A progress report on the commitments contained within the rural White Paper, "Rural England: A Nation Committed to a Living Countryside", will be produced later this year. Environmental impacts will be taken into account in following up the commitments contained within the White Paper.
(2) if the final draft minerals planning guidance note 1 "General Considerations and the Development Plan System" has been subject to an environmental appraisal using the guidance contained in his Department's document "Policy Appraisal and the Environment"; and if he will publish the appraisal; [10603]
planning guidance note 1 "General Considerations and the Development Plan System"; [10606]
(2) what procedures have been put in place by his Department to monitor the environmental impacts arising from the implementation of the White Paper "Making Waste Work"; [10602]
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