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Biodiversity Project (Dog Whelk)

Mr. Barry Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if the biodiversity project announced at the Darwin initiative seminar will include a study of the dog whelk. [24936]

Mr. Clappison: None of the 34 Darwin initiative projects announced at last month's seminar to help developing countries protect biodiversity include such a study. "Biodiversity: The UK Steering Group Report," published in December 1995, recommends that the dog whelk should be among 1,253 species whose conservation status should be monitored. The Government expect to publish their response to the report in the late spring of 1996.

Public Paths and Byways

Mr. Robert Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to alter the obligation to reclassify roads used as public paths as byways open to all traffic if vehicular rights are shown ever to have existed. [24962]

Mr. Clappison: We have no plans to alter the obligation to reclassify RUPPs as BOATs where vehicular rights exist. However, as the Government announced in the rural White Paper, Cm 3016, we intend to discuss with interested parties the issue of restricting the use of byways by motorised vehicles.

16 Apr 1996 : Column: 382

Nitrates

Mr. Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received on the implications of the research by Aberdeen university in 1995 into dietary nitrate intake on the efficacy of European Commission directives on nitrates in water supplies. [25025]

Mr. Clappison: My right hon. Friend has received inquiries from two correspondents and letters from five hon. Members on behalf of three correspondents.

Open Space

Sir Michael Shersby: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many applications he has received during the most recent 12 month period for which information is available for permission to compulsorily purchase metropolitan open space in accordance with section 19 of the Acquisition of Land Act 1981; how many certificates he has given; and if he will make a statement. [24950]

Mr. Robert B. Jones: During the year ended 31 March 1996, Government offices received 12 requests for certificates under section 19 of the Acquisition of Land Act 1981, relating to compulsory purchase of open space. They issued seven certificates during the same period.

Section 19 sets out a scheme of special protection for commons, open space and certain allotments which ensures that the national stock of such special land is not eroded through piecemeal compulsory purchase.

Rights of Way

Mr. Robert Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will publish a best practice guide regarding management of the use of motorised vehicles on rights of way. [24963]

Mr. Clappison: We intend to publish a best practice guide in the summer.

Green Lanes

Mr. Robert Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many cases of deterioration of green lanes by vehicular use have been brought to his attention in the last year for which figures are available. [24961]

Mr. Clappison: Neither my Department nor the Department of Transport keeps statistics of this sort. Few cases of deterioration of green lanes are brought to our attention. Research currently in hand includes an attempt to assess the scale of the problem.

16 Apr 1996 : Column: 383

Asylum Seekers

Ms Glenda Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what expenditure threshold will trigger local authorities to entitlement to 80 per cent. compensation for unavoidable costs incurred as a result of obligations to asylum seekers. [24976]

Mr. Clappison: No decisions have been taken yet on the threshold.

Stormgate Mining Ltd.

Mr. Clapham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he has taken to obtain information about Stormgate Mining Ltd., with special reference to employers liability insurance cover; and if he will make a statement. [25002]

Sir Paul Beresford: The Health and Safety Executive has served a statutory notice on the Stormgate Mining Co. Ltd., requiring it to produce a current certificate of employers' liability compulsory insurance in relation to its Whittle colliery, Northumberland.

Outdoor Advertising

Ms Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) to what environmental appraisal using the guidance contained in "Policy Appraisal and the Environment" produced by his Department, "Outdoor Advertisement Control--Areas of Special Control of Advertisements"--ASCAs--consultation paper has been subjected; and if he will publish the appraisal; [25262]

Sir Paul Beresford: I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave on 11 March, Official Report, column 418.

Local Government Ombudsman

Ms Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what procedures have been put in place by his Department to monitor the environmental impacts arising from the implementation of the review of the local government ombudsman service consultation paper; [25286]

16 Apr 1996 : Column: 384

Mr. Clappison: Sir Geoffrey Chipperfield's independent report on his prior options review of the Commission for Local Administration, or local government ombudsman service, considered whether the functions presently undertaken by the commission were necessary. It did not in itself have any direct impact on the environment and no environmental appraisal was undertaken.

Council Tax

Mr. Dunn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the percentage increase for band D council tax for (a) each unitary local authority and (b) each district council in England for the year 1996-97 over the year 1995-96. [25250]

Sir Paul Beresford: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government, Housing and Urban Regeneration to my hon. Friend the Member for Eastbourne (Mr. Waterson) on 20 March 1996, Official Report, column 213.

Compliance Cost Assessments

Ms Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what compliance cost assessment has been produced for the Housing Bill; if it is publicly available; and if he will place a copy in the Library. [25266]

Mr. Clappison: A compliance cost assessment has been produced for the Housing Bill; it is publicly available and a copy was placed in the Library of the House on 29 January 1996.

Ms Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what compliance cost assessment has been produced for the guidance to the Environment Agency; if it is publicly available; and if he will place a copy in the Library. [25268]

Mr. Clappison: A compliance cost assessment was produced when the Environment Bill setting up the Environment Agency was introduced, as indicated in the explanatory and financial memorandum to the Bill. A copy of the CCA is available in the Library.

There was no need to produce a further CCA for the guidance, which is intended to assist the agency with respect to its objectives and the contribution it is to make towards achieving sustainable development.

Ms Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many compliance cost assessments were produced by his Department in 1995; and if he will place copies in the Library. [25267]

Sir Paul Beresford: Seven compliance cost assessments were produced by my Department during 1995. Copies have been placed in the Library.

16 Apr 1996 : Column: 385

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