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Standard Spending Assessment (Southwark)
Mr. Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what factors led to the reduction in the standard spending assessment of the London borough of Southwark in 1996-97. [14957]
Sir Paul Beresford: Southwark's standard spending assessment--SSA--in 1996-97 is lower than the comparable 1995-96 figure for a number of reasons: principally, the use of later data, such as those used to calculate the area cost adjustment, but also the changes made to the method of calculating the education and all other services elements of SSAs to take account of authorities' need to spend on special educational needs and rent allowances.
Parliamentary Questions
Mr. Kirkwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many written parliamentary questions were passed for answer to executive agencies and non-governmental departments in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [14996]
Sir Paul Beresford: The information is as follows:
| 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Building Research Establishment | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Planning Inspectorate | 4 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 0 |
| The Buying Agency | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | (11)-- |
| Ordnance Survey | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Security Facilities Executive | -- | -- | 0 | 0 | (11)-- |
(11) Responsibility for the Buying Agency and Security Facilities
Executive as transferred on 1 January 1996 to the Office of Public
Service.
14 Feb 1996 : Column: 626
Home Energy Efficiency Scheme
Mr. Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many representations, and from whom, his Department has received on the subject of the reduction in the budget for the home energy efficiency scheme; what that reduction has been; what action his Department plans to take in response to the representations; and if he will make a statement. [15130]
Mr. Robert B. Jones: We have received some 200 representations from hon. Members, local authorities, voluntary bodies and the insulation industry about the reduction in the budget for the home energy efficiency scheme. In 1996-97, the allocation for this programme will be just over £73 million--some £30 million less than in 1995-96. We have recently reviewed the scheme, and hope shortly to publish proposals for its development in the form of a consultation paper.
Environmental Appraisals
Ms Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what progress has been made on the Government's commitment in the UK sustainable development strategy to review the effectiveness of "Policy Appraisal and the Environment"; [15136]
- (2) how many environmental appraisals were produced by his Department using the guidance contained in the Department of the Environment's "Policy Appraisal and the Environment" in 1995; and if he will place copies in the Library. [15116]
Mr. Clappison: We shall shortly commission a project to evaluate the effect of the "Policy Appraisal and the Environment" document on decision making within government. A project specification has already been drawn up. The project should last for about six months.
Ms Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the environmental appraisals produced for the policies used as examples and referred to in environmental appraisals in Government Departments. [15135]
Mr. Clappison: This work was carried out two to three years ago. To retrieve the information and prepare it for publication could, in my view, be accomplished only at disproportionate cost.
Green Ministers
Ms Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidance has been provided to assist Green Ministers in scrutinising the environmental implications of their Departments' policies. [15138]
Mr. Clappison: Guidance is contained in "Policy Appraisal and the Environment: a guide for Government Departments" and its follow-up "Environmental Appraisal in Government Departments".
Ms Ruddock:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was discussed at the last meeting of the Green Ministers; who attended; and what areas of future work were agreed. [15137]
14 Feb 1996 : Column: 627
Mr. Clappison:
At their meeting on 29 January, Green Ministers discussed and agreed future work on the role of Green Ministers, green procurement and waste minimisation in Government Departments. They decided not to publish minutes of their meetings but agreed to the publication of a list of contact addresses in each Government Department where inquiries on green issues could be directed and I shall shortly deposit such a list in the Library. They agreed to publish a series of case studies which show what measures Departments have taken to ensure that environmental considerations are taken into account in policies and programmes. All Green Ministers attended or were represented at the meeting.
Ms Ruddock:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures he is taking to provide added vigour to the integration of environmental concerns into other policy areas. [15139]
Mr. Clappison:
The Government continue to emphasise the need for integrating economic and environmental policies. For the future, Green Ministers have agreed to publish further work on how environmental considerations are taken into account in policies and programmes.
Mrs. Maddock:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many empty dwellings were owned by Government Departments in England in the latest year for which information is available; and if he will make a statement. [14974]
Mr. Clappison:
I refer the hon. Member to the reply which my hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government, Housing and Urban Regeneration gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Ryedale (Mr. Greenway) on 23 November 1995, Official Report, column 238.
Ms Coffey:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the mean rise in registered fair rents for (a) housing associations and (b) private lettings by rent office district between 1990-91 and the latest available date. [15107]
(12) Indicates insufficient sample data to provide a reliable estimate.
14 Feb 1996 : Column: 628
14 Feb 1996 : Column: 629
Dr. John Cunningham:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will envoke the provisions of the Emergency Powers Act 1920 to assist communities in Cumbria and Copeland if there is a further deterioration in the weather in the immediate future; and if he will make a statement. [14814]
Mr. Curry
[holding answer 12 February 1996]: It is the responsibility of my right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary to invoke the provisions of the Emergency Powers Act 1920. It is not clear what authorities in Cumbria might gain if these powers were to be called upon and my right hon. Friend therefore has no plans to ask my right hon. and learned Friend to invoke them as a consequence of the weather conditions in Cumbria.
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