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Energy Efficiency
27. Mr. Alan W. Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on improvement in energy efficiency in the domestic, industrial and transport sectors of the economy since 1970. [25699]
Mr. Robert B. Jones: My Department actively promotes energy efficiency through a wide range of initiatives across all sectors, including information and advice, voluntary schemes, and selective use of grants, incentives and regulation. My Department's recent publication, "Sustainable Development Indicators", shows
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that primary energy consumption in the UK has remained fairly constant since 1970, despite the 60 per cent. rise in gross domestic product. The UK expects carbon dioxide emissions to be 4 to 8 per cent. below 1990 levels by the year 2000.
Built Environment (London)
28. Mr. Tony Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has to improve the built environment in London. [25700]
Mr. Gummer: My over-arching objective is to raise the standard of urban design in London, as elsewhere in the country. I have a number of initiatives in hand to achieve this.
I shall shortly be publishing "Strategic Guidance for London Planning Authorities", which has a chapter devoted to policies to protect and improve the quality of London's environment to ensure that the capital maintains its attractiveness and competitiveness.
Similarly, "Strategic Guidance for the Thames" will increase awareness of the importance of raising design standards in the sensitive river corridor and will contain a set of design principles which local planning authorities will be required to take account of when considering development proposals.
Earlier this year, the Government office for London published a research document on London's urban environment, "Planning for Quality", which identifies the principal components of urban quality and illustrates how they can be enhanced as planning policies are developed.
This is all part of the wider quality in town and country initiative that I launched last year, which seeks to encourage debate and action about what government and others can do to achieve quality in the built environment. Out of this grew last summer's urban design campaign to promote greater consideration of design issues at local level. Out of 21 schemes being supported by my Department nationwide, two are in London-at Borough market and Wimbledon town centre. They will feature in a major exhibition on urban design later this year and the results will help to inform the preparation of good practice on design.
My Department is also reviewing existing planning policy guidance on design in the context of a general review of planning policy guidance note No. 1.
Sir Cranley Onslow:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he has taken to ensure that the criteria employed by the Environment Agency in deciding how many cases of mine water discharges in England and Wales should be selected for remediation funding are consistent with the EC limits set out in the freshwater fisheries directive. [26880]
Mr. Robert B. Jones:
I am advised that some of the chemical parameters set out in the Fresh Water for Fish Directive, 78/659/EEC, are used by the Environment Agency in assessing the state of waters affected by discharges from abandoned coal mines.
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Sir Cranley Onslow:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will obtain from the Environment Agency a copy of the full list of sites of mine water discharges in England and Wales which were considered for possible remediation funding, together with the criteria used in the decision as to the cases to be put forward; and if he will place the list in the Library. [26881]
Mr. Jones:
So far as mine water discharges from coal mines are concerned, the Environment Agency has considered a large number of sites affected by mine water discharges, using the following criteria:
Mrs. Helen Jackson:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will announce his decision with regard to the planning proposals for four out-of-town-centre food superstores at Daventry, Northamptonshire. [27388]
Sir Paul Beresford:
I expect to be able to issue decisions shortly.
Mr. Cox:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he last met representatives of the house building industry to discuss house building in England; and if he will make a statement. [26129]
Mr. Clappison:
The Secretary of State met members of the volume housebuilders study group on 13 February 1996. This was followed by more detailed discussions with the chairman of the group. In addition, my hon. Friend the Minister for Planning, Construction and Energy Efficiency and I hold regular meetings with representatives of the construction industry including, where appropriate, those from the housebuilding industry.
There were 135,700 private housing starts in 1995; that is 13 per cent. higher than in 1992, which was the lowest point in the recent housebuilding cycle. In the three months to February 1996, starts rose 6 per cent. compared with the previous three months. Mortgage interest rates are now at their lowest for nearly 30 years and house purchase is unusually affordable. The Government believe that there is every reason to have confidence in the present and future health of the housing market.
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Mr. Llew Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the role of the board of the Environment Agency and its regional committees. [26358]
Mr. Clappison:
The board is directly responsible to Ministers for all aspects of the agency's organisation and performance. We expect the board to ensure that the agency fulfils its statutory duties and to ensure propriety, regularity, economy, efficiency and effectiveness in the operation of the organisation.
Within each of its regions, the agency is required to establish an environment protection advisory committee and a fisheries advisory committee and to consult them about the manner in which it carries out relevant functions in the regions.
Each region also has one or more flood defence committee, which are responsible for carrying out all the agency's flood defence functions other than the issuing of levies, making drainage charges or borrowing money.
Mr. Corbyn:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Dartford (Mr. Dunn) of 18 March, Official Report, column 9, on the establishment of an interdepartmental working group in respect of perceived blight (a) what is the membership of the group, (b) when it is due to report to him, (c) when its findings will be published, (d) what representations will be allowed from local authorities and affected residents and (e) if it will take into account views expressed by any Select Committee of the House of Lords on the Channel Tunnel Rail Link Bill. [27105]
Sir Paul Beresford:
The interdepartmental working group on blight is chaired by the head of the Department of the Environment planning directorate. The membership of the group is drawn from the Departments for Education and Employment, the Environment, National Heritage, Trade and Industry and Transport and the Ministries of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, and of Defence, Her Majesty's Treasury, the Welsh and Scottish Offices, the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland, the Highways Agency, the Prison Service, NHS Estates and the Valuation Office.
The working group will circulate a paper shortly summarising the main issues for consideration and inviting comments. A copy will be placed in the Library. Until we see what evidence is submitted and are able to analyse the options that may arise, it is premature to say when a final report will be submitted, but the working group will proceed as quickly as possible and I have already undertaken that there will be a progress report in September.
As a result of the application of these criteria, 35 sites have been identified for further study in order to consider the practicability and cost of potential remedial work. I am arranging for a list of these sites to be placed in the Library of the House.
Biological impact
Area biologically affected
Area visually affected
Length visually affected
Substrate quality
Iron deposition
Total iron downstream of discharge
pH, dissolved oxygen levels and aluminium concentration.
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