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Rural White Paper
19. Mr. Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many responses he has received to the publication of the rural White Paper; and if he will make a statement. [15505]
Mr. Gummer: We have received well over 500 written responses to the various policies and proposals in the rural White Paper. In addition, Ministers and officials have participated in a large number of conferences and seminars which have been arranged across England to discuss the White Paper.
Air Quality
20. Mr. William O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent representations he has received regarding air quality. [15506]
Mr. Clappison: This year, my ministerial colleagues and I have received a number of letters from Members of Parliament and the public concerning air quality.
Compulsory Competitive Tendering
21. Mr. Evennett:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to extend compulsory competitive tendering; and if he will make a statement. [15507]
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Sir Paul Beresford:
In 1994 and 1995, Parliament approved orders under the Local Government Act 1988 which added legal, construction and property, financial, personnel and information technology services to the compulsory competitive tendering regime. CCT for these services is being introduced under a implementation timetable which begins in 1996 and continues to 2000.
Our priority, a present, is the successful implementation of CCT for the existing range of CCT activities and we currently have no proposals to add to the list of activities.
22. Mr. Tipping:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the extra costs that local authorities will face as a result of his decision to delay local government reorganisation. [15508]
Mr. Curry:
I do not expect that a delay in the date for any particular reorganisation should affect its cost.
23. Mr. Corbett:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what financial assistance is available from his Department to local authorities when they are required to re-run the tender process for housing management contracts. [15509]
24. Mr. Janner:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the number of home owners who will (a) experience negative equity and (b) undergo repossession in 1996. [15510]
Mr. Curry:
The Government do not make such forecasts. Home owners will continue to benefit from the Government's economic policies, which have made home ownership more affordable than for many years.
25. Mr. Merchant:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on his proposals to help local authorities deal more effectively with anti-social tenants. [15511]
Sir John Hannam:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to help local authorities deal with anti-social tenants. [15498]
Mr. Clappison:
The Government have included in the Housing Bill a substantial package of measures to help local authorities to deal more effectively with anti-social tenants. That package will also assist housing associations and private landlords.
26. Dr. Lynne Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what contribution he expects the private finance initiative to make to the capital programme of local authorities. [15512]
Mr. Robert B. Jones:
The Government have created opportunities for local authorities to use the private finance initiative to achieve increased levels of investment in upgrading and developing the services that they offer.
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27. Mr. Alan W. Williams:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the total number of employees (a) in the National Rivers Authority at its disestablishment and (b) in the Environment Agency at its launch. [15513]
Mr. Clappison:
There are 7,420 full-time equivalent posts in the National Rivers Authority. The equivalent number for the Environment Agency from 1 April 1996 is expected to be a little over 9,100--the agency will inherit the functions and staff of Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution as well as those of the National Rivers Authority.
28. Mr. Ian Bruce:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he next intends to meet representatives of the GMB union to discuss the provision of local authority services. [15514]
29. Mr. Barnes:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the take-up of the rents-to-mortgages scheme in 1996. [15515]
Mr. Clappison:
My Department has made no estimate of future sales.
Ms Lynne:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment to what extent the local grant finance settlement for 1996-97 makes allowance for the differing amounts of fuel required to heat identical properties throughout Britain on the basis of the Building Research Establishment domestic energy model. [16063]
Sir Paul Beresford:
The main use of the Building Research Establishment domestic energy model is a design tool for comparing the energy consumption of different building designs. It would therefore be inappropriate to include it in the formulae for distributing revenue support grant.
Mr. Raynsford:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what amount of the housing corporations' budget is being earmarked for the (a) acquisition and (b) rehabilitation of properties belonging to the Ministry of Defence married quarters estate which are currently being offered for sale. [16390]
Mr. Curry:
None of the budget is being earmarked. Housing associations will be entitled to bid competitively for funds to assist with the acquisition and rehabilitation of MOD property, on the same basis as for other property, if the schemes proposed meet the housing corporations' criteria.
Mr. Nigel Evans:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many telecommunications masts were erected in (i) 1993, (ii) 1994, (iii) 1995 and (iv) to date.[16403]
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Sir Paul Beresford:
This information is not collected centrally.
Mr. Ian McCartney:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 13 February, Official Report, column 533, what additional information is available in respect of the nature, number and value of items of Health and Safety Executive equipment lost in (a) 1993-94 and (b) 1995-96 to date. [16712]
Sir Paul Beresford:
I am able to provide the following information about the nature, number and value of HSE equipment lost in 1993-94 and 1995-96 to date:
| 1993-94 | 1995-96 to date | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nature of equipment | Amount stolen | Amount unaccounted for | Amount stolen | Amount unaccounted for |
| Computer equipment | 6,502 | 43,860 | 37,352 | 0 |
| Scientific equipment | 6,277 | 344,271 | 0 | 0 |
| Photographic equipment | 20,769 | 526 | 0 | 0 |
| Other equipment | 6,163 | 96,138 | 0 | 0 |
| Totals | 39,711 | 484,795 | 37,352 | 0 |
| Photographic equipment later recovered | 17,036 | -- | -- | -- |
During 1993 and 1994, the HSE mounted special exercises to verify the existence of its assets. These revealed that a number of items had been disposed of over preceding years, many at the end of their lives, without formal documentation, so could not be accounted for. At the time of the loss, these items had little, or no, historic net book value--so the loss suffered was much less than the purchase price shown.
Single Regeneration Budget
Mr. Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the successful bids under round 2 of the single regeneration budget by region and value of grant. [17364]
Sir Paul Beresford: The information requested was placed in the Library of the House and circulated to hon. Members on 12 December 1995. I have sent further copies to the hon. Member.
High-voltage Power Cables
Mr. Williams O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he intends to issue planning guidance notes to local authorities on building near to high-voltage power lines; and if he will make a statement. [17127]
Sir Paul Beresford:
The National Radiological Protection Board, which advises the Government, local authorities and industry on these matters, has already issued guidance on the known health effects of proximity to high-voltage cables and other sources of
27 Feb 1996 : Column: 453
electromagnetic fields. The board will not hesitate to give further advice on protection if the scientific evidence indicates that it is necessary.
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