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Green Ministers

Ms Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish summaries of the discussions and actions agreed upon following the meetings of Green Ministers. [34573]

Mr. Clappison: Green Ministers decided not to publish summaries of their discussions but agreed to publish a list of contact addresses in each Government Department where inquiries on green issues could be directed. A copy of the list is in the House Library. They also agreed to publish a series of case studies which show what measures Departments have taken to ensure that environmental considerations are taken into account in policies and programmes.

Ms Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the next meeting of Green Ministers is planned; and what will be on the agenda. [34574]

Mr. Clappison: The next meeting of Green Ministers will take place later in the summer. The agenda has not yet been drawn up.

Ms Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which Government Departments were present at the last meeting of the Green Ministers; and which were represented by a Minister. [34575]

Mr. Clappison: All Green Ministers attended or were represented at their last meeting.

"Policy Appraisal and the Environment"

Ms Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many staff are employed within his

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Department with responsibility for ensuring that "Policy Appraisal and the Environment" is used by all Government Departments. [34576]

Mr. Clappison: It is for individual Government Departments to ensure that "Policy Appraisal and the Environment" is used within their Departments. Within my Department, no staff have exclusive responsibility for this task.

Ms Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidance has been issued to the Government regional offices to ensure "Policy Appraisal and the Environment" is used in decision making at regional level; and if he will place a copy of that guidance in the Library. [34577]

Mr. Clappison: All Government Departments were advised to use "Policy Appraisal and the Environment" when it was published in 1991. Copies were distributed widely within the Department of the Environment, including the regional offices.

Ms Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what monitoring is (a) currently undertaken and (b) planned of the use of "Policy Appraisal and the Environment" by Government Departments and Government regional offices. [34578]

Mr. Clappison: No monitoring has been undertaken, but the Department is about to appoint consultants who will evaluate the degree to which "Policy Appraisal and the Environment" has been used by Government Departments, and will make recommendations as to how the integration of environmental considerations into policy making in government can be reinforced.

Local Government Commission

Mr. Merchant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will announce the name of the new chairman of the Local Government Commission for England. [35270]

Mr. Curry: Professor Malcolm Grant, the current deputy chairman of the Local Government Commission for England, has been appointed chairman of the commission with effect from 1 July 1996 when Sir David Cooksey's term of appointment is completed. To retain the current membership of seven commissioners a new member has been appointed, Mr. Robin Gray, who takes up post on the same day.

Hedgerows

Ms Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the Government expect to publish the draft Hedgerow Protection Regulations for consultation; and if the Government propose to introduce the hedgerow protection scheme by July. [34572]

Mr. Clappison: Section 97 of the Environment Act 1995 requires that hedgerow protection regulations are subject to consultation and approval by both Houses under the affirmative resolution procedure before they can come into effect. We expect to publish the draft regulations for consultation later in the summer, with the aim of laying the regulations in Parliament by the end of the year.

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Purchase Grant Scheme

Mr. Jopling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to consult on detailed proposals covering the remaining counties of England to exempt small rural settlements from the purchase grant scheme; and if he will make a statement. [35271]

Mr. Curry: In March, we issued a consultation paper on how we propose to exempt small rural settlements in England from the new purchase grant scheme. The paper set out the way we propose to implement the designation in England, and invited comments on our general approach, and on the detailed proposals for the first 15 counties and areas. In May, we issued a consultation paper that covered a further 15 counties. Comments were sought from local authorities, housing associations, rural groups and other interested parties.

We have today issued a supplement to those papers, which gives detailed proposals for the final 15 counties: Norfolk, North Yorkshire, Northamptonshire, Northumberland, Nottinghamshire, Somerset, South Yorkshire, Staffordshire, Surrey, Suffolk, Tyne and Wear, Warwickshire, West Midlands, West Sussex, West Yorkshire.

Copies of the consultation paper have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. Copies of papers for each individual county or area, including copies of any maps needed, have also been placed in both Libraries.

Housing Investment Trusts

Mr. Merchant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will ensure that housing investment trusts can benefit from the same accounting rules as other investment trusts under the Companies Act 1985. [35272]

Mr. Curry: The Under-Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, my hon. Friend the Member for Amber Valley (Mr. Oppenheim), has agreed, in principle, to extend the definition of investment companies in section 266 of the Companies Act 1985 to cover properties of the type to be held by housing investment trusts so that the same reliefs are available to those companies. As there is a need to consult on any proposal to amend the Companies Act, and to ensure that wider accounting treatment issues are considered thoroughly, it is unlikely the necessary amendment could be introduced this year. We would expect the required order to be laid before the House early in the new year.

Animal Welfare

Mr. Morley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list by group, division or other work unit the number of grades of staff working within his Department on animal welfare issues; [34301]

(2) if he will list (a) United Kingdom legislation, (b) EU legislation and (c) international treaties, conventions or other obligations concerning animal welfare for which his Department has responsibility; [34300]

(3) if he will list the animal welfare issues for which his Department has responsibility. [34299]

Mr. Clappison [holding answer 25 June 1996]: The animal welfare issues for which my Department are responsible include zoos, the keeping of dangerous wild

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animals, the ban on the use of certain methods of killing or taking of birds and wild animals, leghold traps and some aspects of the transport of endangered species.

These issues are covered by the Zoo Licensing Act 1981, the Dangerous Wild Animal Act 1976, the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and the EC Leghold Trap Regulation 1991 (EC No. 3254/91 and EC No. 1771/94). Provisions on accommodation and handling during the transport of endangered species are reflected in existing EC regulations (EC No. 3626/82 and 3418/83) which govern the implementation of the convention on international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora.

The wildlife and countryside directorate is responsible for animal welfare issues among its other duties. The grades and approximate number of the directorate's staff involved are:

Director (Grade 3): less than 1 full-time equivalent
Assistant Secretary (G5): less than 1
Principal (G7): less than 1
Higher Executive Officer: 1
Executive Officer: 1-2
Administrative Officer: Assistant: 1-2.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

Employment Department Offices

Mr. Alan Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much was spent on Employment Department office refurbishment in Swansea before its sale; and what were the sale proceeds. [34483]

Mr. Forth: Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from Mike Fogden to Mr. Alan Williams, dated 26 June 1996:

The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about the cost of the Employment Department office refurbishment in Swansea.
The refurbishment of one of my offices in Swansea started in February 1994. The work was essential for the following reasons;
(i) to meet our organisational requirements at that time in order to efficiently deal with the needs of the business;
(ii) to fulfil our lease obligations to maintain the standard of our estates responsibilities ie redecoration and maintenance/upgrade of the heating system;
(iii) to meet health and safety requirements by upgrading light levels to ensure compliance with the Health at Work Act.
Subsequent to these alterations taking place our operational requirements changed and, in order to meet these and to continue to improve the delivery of services to our clients, the decision was taken to fully integrate the functions undertaken at Grove House with those at my other Jobcentre in High Street.
Although the premises have not been open to the public since September 1995, the Employment Service has continued to use the premises for its business and will do so until the lease break at the end of June 1996.
By maintaining the standard of the office, the refurbishment will greatly offset any dilapidation claim the landlord may have against us at the end of our tenure in June.

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There were no sale proceeds as the building is leasehold, not freehold. Disposal of our lease in June will realise savings of £42,500 rent and £20,000 rates per annum to the ES. Additional running cost savings of £10,500 per annum in respect of fuel, utilities etc, will also be achieved.
I hope this is helpful.

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