| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Waste Shipments
Mr. Thomason: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his policy in relation to shipments of waste into and out of the United Kingdom. [30021]
Mr. Clappison: The Government's policies are set out in the "United Kingdom Management Plan for Exports and Imports of Waste", which is published today, and comes into operation on 1 June 1996.
Under the plan, which is legally binding throughout the United Kingdom, all exports of waste for disposal are banned, as are most imports for disposal other than in exceptional cases where wider environmental considerations apply. Exports of water for recovery to countries within the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development may continue but, subject to limited exceptions, exports of hazardous waste for recovery to non-OECD countries are banned. Imports of waste for genuine recovery operations may continue.
The Government's policy proposals for waste exports and imports were initially outlined in a statement by my right hon. Friend, the Member for South Ribble (Mr. Atkins), who was then Minister for the Environment and Countryside, on 15 June 1994. The Department
16 May 1996 : Column: 556
consulted on a draft document during February and March 1995; some 750 copies were dispatched, and 73 responses were received from industry, waste regulators and members of the public. Copies of non-confidential responses have been placed in my Department's library. The final text of the plan incorporates various changes to meet the concerns and interests of those consulted.
A compliance cost assessment has been undertaken in relation to the plan. Copies of both the plan and the compliance cost assessment have been placed in the Library.
The plan provides the means to implement the Government's long-standing policy of self-sufficiency in waste disposal, while preserving legitimate trade in wastes moving for recovery. It also takes account of the United Kingdom's international obligations, in particular under the Basel convention on the control of transboundary movements of hazardous wastes and their disposal.
Mr. David Nicholson:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the National Radiological Protection Board will be publishing the results of its mapping exercise to identify the areas of England with High radon levels. [30148]
Mr. Gummer:
In January, we announced that the National Radiological Protection Board report on radon would be published later in the year. That report was published this morning. Copies of it have been provided to the Library of the House. The Under-Secretary, my hon. Friend the Member for Hertsmere (Mr. Clappison) has written to hon. Members with a direct interest enclosing a comprehensive briefing pack. Copies have also been sent to affected local authorities.
Ms Ruddock:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the consultation paper on proposed rural exemptions from the purchase grant scheme for housing association tenants was subject to an environmental appraisal using the guidance contained in "Policy Appraisal and the Environment"; if he will publish the appraisal; what alternative courses of action from those set out in the paper were considered in the environmental appraisal; how the paper was modified by the results of the appraisal; and what procedures have been put in place by his Department to monitor the environmental impacts arising from the implementation of the paper. [29499]
Mr. Clappison:
The new purchase grant scheme will extend the chance of home ownership to more housing associations tenants, allowing them to buy their own home at a discount. The consultation paper on proposed rural exemptions contains proposals to exclude small rural settlements with a population of 3,000 or fewer from the scheme. Housing association tenants living in those settlements would not have the right to buy their homes. As such exclusions will not have any environmental consequences, an environmental appraisal was not appropriate.
16 May 1996 : Column: 557
Mr. King:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he intends to place a contract for 81 mm ammunition; and if he will make a statement. [29761]
Mr. Arbuthnot:
I am pleased to announce that we have decided, subject to the satisfactory completion of negotiations, to award two contracts to Royal Ordnance, a division of British Aerospace Defence Ltd., for the supply of five years' worth of 81mm mortar ammunition. The requirement is for the high explosive and smoke rounds for the 81mm mortar in service with the British Army. The total value of the two contracts is approximately £80 million.
The high explosive round contract was won by Royal Ordnance in the face of competition from other UK firms and overseas suppliers. The contract for the smoke round will be placed with Royal Ordnance, as the producers of the only approved product to meet this requirement, subject to the satisfactory completion of price negotiations.
A number of Royal Ordnance factories will benefit from these orders, in particular the factory at Glascoed, Gwent which will undertake the filling and assembly of the high explosive rounds. Significant work packages are also expected to go to RO factories at Birtley, Radway Green and Bridgwater. The orders should help maintain up to 400 jobs at Royal Ordnance sites and its UK sub-contractors for the duration of the contracts.
Mr. Spellar:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the estimated costs of the Jaguar thermal imaging airborne laser designator update; and what evaluation his Department has made of the contract process for this project. [29224]
Mr. Arbuthnot:
The estimated cost of the initial programme upgrade 12 Jaguar aircraft was of the order of £13 million. The contracting process employed for this and all other procurement projects is decided only after careful consideration and evaluation of all relevant factors.
Mrs. Clwyd:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of his Department's works of art are classified as stolen. [29403]
Mr. Arbuthnot:
Six works of art belonging to my Department have been reported as stolen.
Mr. Legg:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the Defence Clothing and Textiles Agency for 1996-97. [30022]
Mr. Soames:
The chief executive of the Defence Clothing and Textiles Agency has been set the following key targets for 1996-97:
16 May 1996 : Column: 558
Dr. David Clark:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the projected strength of the RAF on 1 April 2000. [29645]
Mr. Soames:
The estimated strength of the RAF on 1 April 2000 is around 55,500. This figure includes an element for personnel undergoing training.
Dr. David Clark:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to use civilian contractors in front-line operations. [29647]
Mr. Soames:
We have no such plans. Our aim is to maintain the effectiveness and operational capability of our armed forces. To that end, we seek to concentrate resources on the front line, providing support to the armed forces in ways which ensure long-term value for money, and utilising the skills and resources of the commercial sector wherever this makes operational and economic sense.
Dr. David Clark:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Ukrainian registered merchant vessels his Department has chartered in the current year. [29649]
Mr. Soames:
My Department has chartered one Ukrainian registered vessel to date in 1996. The vessel has undertaken two separate charters.
Dr. David Clark:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total service strength of the armed forces at 1 April 1990; and what is the projected strength at 1 April 2000. [29653]
Mr. Soames:
The total service strength of the regular armed forces at 1 April 1990 was 314,700. The estimated strength at 1 April 2000 is 213,500. Both figures include Gurkha strengths, Royal Marines and Queen Alexandra Royal Naval Nursing Service, and an element for personnel undergoing training. The former excludes the
16 May 1996 : Column: 559
then Ulster Defence Regiment and the latter excludes the Royal Irish Regiment (Home Service Force).
(1) To achieve a minimum availability of 80 per cent. across the agency commodity ranges.
These key targets take forward much of the work of the previous targets as set out in the agency's first documents, and it is hoped that the collocation of the agency will drive the rationalisation and reform activities which are essential to the DCTA business plan. Given all the other pressures on the agency, including downward financial pressure, I believe they are challenging but achievable. Copies of the agency's new framework document will be placed in the Library of the House.
(2) To ensure that 80 per cent. of research and development milestones are met by the due date and within budget.
(3) To ensure that 90 per cent. of procurement milestones are met for key items, and 80 per cent. of procurement milestones are met for other items, so that total planned time is achieved from initiation of requirement to delivery.
(4) To ensure that expenditure is managed to within 2.5 per cent. of budget.
(5) To ensure that 80 per cent. satisfaction rate is achieved on customer surveys.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |