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"Adults in Need Index"
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he (a) has taken and (b) will be taking, following the 1995 Association of Metropolitan Authorities paper entitled "Adults in Need Index". [14205]
Sir Paul Beresford: The AMA paper "Adults in Need Index" was presented to the standard spending assessments--SSA--sub-group in 1995. Two of the options which it included were exemplified in the report of the SSA sub-group. These possible changes were considered, when the changes proposed to SSAs for 1996-97 were being decided. We were not convinced that a strong enough case had been made for the introduction of such an index.
The local authority associations may wish to present further information on the "Adults in Need Index". During discussion in the SSA sub-group in 1996, we will consider whatever material is brought forward.
Sites of Special Scientific Interest
Sir Sydney Chapman:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many sites of special scientific interest English Nature reported as damaged in (a) 1992-93, (b) 1993-94 and (c) 1994-95; and what percentage of the total these represent. [14200]
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Mr. Gummer:
Information on damage to SSSIs is contained in the annual reports of English Nature, copies of which are in the Library.
Mr. Barry Field:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what reports the National Rivers Authority has received in respect of the E coli count under the shellfish waters directive (a) before and (b) since the Norton outfall was commissioned. [14338]
Mr. Clappison:
I understand that the Norton outfall was commissioned in 1979 before the shellfish waters directive came into force. I also understand that the National Rivers Authority has collected information about E coli but not received any reports in respect of the E coli count in relation to the shellfish waters directive for this locality.
Mrs. Bridget Prentice:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many private dwellings there are in each London borough. [14752]
Mr. Clappison:
The numbers of private sector dwellings, excluding housing association dwellings, in each London borough on 1 April 1995, as reported by local authorities on their 1995 housing investment programme--HIP1--returns, were as follows:
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Environmental Services Association
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Enviornment what representations he has received from the Environmental Services Association concerning (a) the adequacy of landfill capacity and (b) difficulties in securing new facilities. [14793]
Mr. Clappison: The Environmental Services Association--ESA--issued its "Planning Guidelines for Waste Management Facilities" last month, which addresses both issues. My officials have held meetings with representatives of the ESA on these matters and in connection with my Department's preparation of a planning policy guidance note on waste.
Building Heights
Mr. Chris Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what restrictions are placed on the height of a single storey building by (a) planning legislation and (b) planning policy guidance. [14618]
Sir Paul Beresford: The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 places a restriction of 4 m in the case of a building with a ridged roof and 3 m in any other case on the height of a building which can be erected within the curtilage of a dwelling house without the need for a planning application. The Department's booklet "Planning--A Guide for Householders" encourages good design and consideration for neighbours in the exercise of such residential permitted development rights.
Where planning permission is required for a single storey building, its appearance and relationship to its surroundings are material considerations. No specific guidance is given on the height of single storey buildings, but general guidance on design considerations is given in annexe A of planning policy guidance note 1 "General Policy and Principles".
Landfill Sites
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many registered landfill sites do not have weighbridges. [14791]
Mr. Clappison:
My Department does not hold precise information about the number of landfill sites which do not have weighbridges. A sample survey conducted by the Environmental Services Association--the trade
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association representing 70 per cent. of the waste management industry by turnover--suggests that less than 10 per cent. of its members operate landfill sites which do not have weighbridges. The Environmental Services Association will conduct a further survey of its members later this year.
Mr. Prentice:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he estimates landfill demand will exceed capacity. [14792]
Mr. Clappison:
My Department does not have precise information about when landfill demand might meet capacity, as this will depend largely on the availability of new void space from, for example, mineral workings. The White Paper "Making Waste Work" which was published in December explains that
Planning authorities must aim to meet the requirement that there is an adequate network of waste disposal facilities, including landfill sites, when drawing up their development plans. Further guidance on this will be contained in the planning policy guidance note on waste which the Department intends to produce by the end of the year.
Over the country as a whole, there appears to be adequate rate of generation of new void space for now, though there are divergent views on this, and further work is necessary to confirm and to quantify trends. In the longer term it is likely that some regions may begin to encounter shortages of suitable void space that can be used for landfill purposes, and there is some evidence that such shortages are already becoming apparent in the south-east region, for example.
Sustainable Development
Mrs. Anne Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the White Paper on sustainable development will be published; and what account it will take of the sustainability of soils. [14645]
Mr. Clappison: We intend to publish "This Common Inheritance: UK Annual report 1996" in March this year. The content of the report is still under discussion.
Quarrying
Mr. Chris Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what powers planning authorities have to restrict quarrying operations in order to protect the water table. [14619]
Sir Paul Beresford: When considering new applications for planning permissions for quarrying, mineral planning authorities can consider all aspects of the proposed development including its impact on the water table, and can impose appropriate conditions or refuse permission as necessary. Authorities are in a position to seek expert advice from the National Rivers Authority.
For existing permissions, mineral planning authorities have a range of order-making powers under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to revoke or modify planning permissions, discontinue a use of land, or to impose conditions on the continuance of that use, or to prohibit the resumption of mineral working in certain circumstances. In addition, the Planning and Compensation Act 1991 and the Environment Act 1995
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introduced new requirements for the review and updating of old mineral permissions. Advice on applying the powers available has been published in minerals planning guidance notes 4,8,9 and 14.
Mr. David Atkinson:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidelines his Department issues to local authorities in respect of cleaning chewing gum from pedestrian areas; and if he will have discussions with chewing gum manufacturers on this subject. [14755]
Mr. Clappison:
We have issued no guidance on cleaning chewing gum from pedestrianised areas. However, the Tidy Britain Group, which is largely funded by my Department, is currently working with a major chewing gum manufacturer to establish both effective cleansing methods and ways of reducing the problem in the first place.
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