| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Telecommunications Masts and Wind Turbines
Mr. Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what planning restrictions there are on the number of wind turbines erected in a particular area; [21414]
- (2) what planning regulations apply to anemo- meters; [21412]
(3) what planning regulations apply to the erection of wind turbines; [21408]
(4) what statutory protection is provided to areas on the outskirts of areas of outstanding natural beauty from wind farms; [21418]
(5) what protection is provided to areas of outstanding natural beauty from wind farms by (a) planning regulations and (b) guidance; [21409]
(6) what plans he has to review the section on planning policy guidance note 22 dealing with the erection of wind farms. [21411]
Sir Paul Beresford: Wind turbines are subject to the same planning controls as other types of development, and are subject to national policies for the protection of the countryside. Planning policy guidance note 22 gives full and clear advice on the planning framework. The same planning controls apply to anemometers. If a local planning authority wishes to protect a locally important area, it should draw up a policy to do so in its development plan.
All planning applications for wind turbines should be considered on their own merits. Local planning authorities should balance the benefits of developing a clean and renewable source of energy against any impacts on the local landscape depending upon local circumstances.
Waste Disposal
Mr. Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what method his Department recommends for the safe disposal of (a) mercury, (b) lead, (c) cadmium and (d) polychlorinated biphenyls. [21390]
Mr. Clappison: The recommended method of disposal for these substances will depend on their chemical and physical form, the quantity and the availability of disposal facilities. In general where they are not recovered,
19 Mar 1996 : Column: 142
mercury, lead and cadmium my be safely disposed to a suitable landfill either directly or after chemical and/or physical treatment.
PCB wastes should be incinerated. At very low concentrations they may be landfilled. There are other specific treatments for PCB-contaminated transformer oils which destroy the PCB to an extent that allows the oil to be reused.
Detailed guidance on methods for the safe disposal of wastes is available in waste management papers published by the Department. The relevant papers are:
Ms Ruddock:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) when the draft circular on planning and affordable housing consultation paper was subject to an environmental appraisal using the guidance contained in "Policy Appraisal and the Environment", produced by the Department of the Environment; and if he will publish the appraisal; [21074]
(3) in what ways the draft circular on planning and affordable housing consultation paper was modified by the results of the environmental appraisal undertaken by his Department. [21076]
Mr. Robert B. Jones:
The planning policy on affordable housing is set out in planning policy guidance note 3. Because the draft circular does not change policy, but only explains how it can best be implemented, an environmental appraisal was not necessary. However, if any comments are received from consultees on environmental impact, they will be carefully considered.
Ms Ruddock:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what procedures have been put in place by his Department to monitor the environmental impacts arising from the implementation of the draft circular on planning and affordable housing consultation paper. [21077]
Mr. Jones:
There are no direct environmental impacts of the draft circular. The policy guidance on affordable housing is in PPG3 in which environmental issues are fully addressed, and which was revised following the
19 Mar 1996 : Column: 143
1990 White Paper "This Common Inheritance". The draft circular is intended not to add to the policy guidance to planning policy guidance note 3, but to advise on how that guidance might be best given effect.
Local planning authorities, in taking account of PPG3 and other guidance notes in drawing their local plans, are already advised to carry out an environmental appraisal of these plans.
Ms Armstrong:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list, by service, the local authorities in England that have been challenged by his Department under regulations under section 9 of the Local Government Act 1992 in relation to their internal arrangements for establishing client-contractor splits. [21547]
Sir Paul Beresford:
Although we have received allegations of anti-competitive behaviour by local authorities about the arrangements for establishing a client-contractor split, none has proceeded to statutory action. Records are not available by service area of the allegations which have been received.
Ms Armstrong:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list by authority and service area, the recorded deficits made by local authority direct labour or services organisations in England that have failed to meet the rate of return requirements operating contracts under the terms of the Local Government (Planning and
19 Mar 1996 : Column: 144
Land) Act 1980 and for the Local Government Act 1988 for each financial year from 1990-91 to 1994-95 in both cash and constant prices. [21551]
Detailed lists by authority and service area for the years 1991-92 to 1994-95 have been placed in the Library of the House. A list for 1990-91 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Ms Armstrong:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many complaints his Department received alleging anti-competitive behaviour by local authorities in England under the terms of the Local Government Act 1988 for each financial year from 1990-91 to 1994-95; and how many local authorities were subsequently issued with a section 19a notice or 19b direction. [21548]
Sir Paul Beresford:
The table gives, for the years in question, the number of complaints received by the Department of the Environment alleging anti-competitive behaviour by local authorities under the Local Government Act 1988. It also shows the number of authorities on which notices were served under section 13 and to which directions were given under section 14, and the total numbers of notices and directions.
19 Mar 1996 : Column: 143
In addition, WMP No. 26F co-disposal landfill, currently in preparation, will give guidance on loading rates for these and certain other wastes.
WMP No. 12 Mercury-bearing Wastes;
WMP No. 24 Cadmium-bearing Wastes;
WMP No. 6 Polychlorinated Biphenyls; and
WMP No. 11 Metal Finishing Wastes which includes some lead wastes.
(2) what alternative courses of action from those listed in the draft circular on planning and affordable housing consultation paper were considered in the environmental appraisal undertaken by his Department; [21075]
334 (14.5 per cent.) of the 2,302 1994-95 local authority direct labour/service organisation accounts for 1994-95 received by my Department recorded a deficit.
For 1993-94, 2,381 accounts were received, of which 307 (12.9 per cent.) recorded a deficit.
For 1992-93, 2,409 accounts were received, of which 321 (13.3 per cent.) recorded a deficit.
For 1991-92, 2,260 accounts were received, of which 242 (10.7 per cent.) recorded a deficit.
| Year | Total number of complaints | Number of authorities receiving notices | Total number of notices | Number of authorities given directions | Total number of directions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990-91 | 59 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 3 |
| 1991-92 | 41 | 6 | 7 | 2 | 2 |
| 1992-93 | 70 | 8 | 9 | 5 | 6 |
| 1993-94 | 110 | 12 | 13 | 6 | 6 |
| 1994-95 | 65 | 12 | 15 | 8 | 9 |
19 Mar 1996 : Column: 143
Ms Armstrong: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many complaints his Department received alleging anti-competitive behaviour by local authorities in England under the terms of the Local Government (Planning and Land) Act 1980 for each financial year from 1990-91 to 1994-95; and how many local authorities were subsequently issued with a section 19a notice or 19b direction. [21552]
19 Mar 1996 : Column: 144
Sir Paul Beresford: The table gives, for the years in question, the number of complaints received by the Department of the Environment alleging anti-competitive behaviour by local authorities under the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980. It also shows the number of authorities on which notices were served under section 19A and to which directions were given under section 19B, and the total numbers of notices and directions.
| Year | Number of complaints | Number of authorities receiving notices | Total number of notices | Number of authorities given directions | Total number of directions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990-91 | 21 | -- | 0 | -- | 0 |
| 1991-92 | 15 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 1992-93 | 36 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| 1993-94 | 40 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 8 |
| 1994-95 | 15 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
19 Mar 1996 : Column: 143
19 Mar 1996 : Column: 145
Ms Armstrong: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authority direct labour and direct service organisations in England, operating contracts under the terms of the Local Government (Planning and Land) Act 1980, have achieved the required rate of return for each financial year from 1992-93 to 1994-95 and similarly under the Local Government Act 1988. [21549]
Sir Paul Beresford: For the financial year 1994-95, my Department recorded 2,302 local authority direct labour and direct service organisation accounts. Some 1,968 of these accounts showed that the statutory financial objective had been met.
For 1993-94, 2,381 accounts were received, 2,057 of which met the required rate of return.
For 1992-93, 2,409 accounts were received, 2,060 of which met the required rate of return.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |