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Public Bodies
Mr Miller: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what guidelines have been issued to non-departmental public bodies in relation to the implementation of local pay delegation, following the decision to end the previous pay arrangements for such organisations. [40133]
Mr. Waldegrave: Departments were given delegated responsibility for the pay systems of their civil service staff outside the senior civil service from 1 April 1996. This change did not directly affect non-departmental public bodies--they already had responsibility for their pay systems, subject to Treasury approval or consent in many, but not all, cases, and do not generally employ civil servants. However many NDPBs have pay systems which are analogous to or closely follow those of the civil servants in the sponsor department. As Departments introduce pay systems tailored to their particular requirements, NDPBs will need to consider what changes are appropriate for them. The Treasury has issued guidance to help departments think through the many issues involved, and Departments are free to show this to their NDPBs if they decide that is helpful.
ENVIRONMENT
Waste Recycling
15. Mr. Kirkwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what further assistance he proposes to support local authority local waste recycling schemes; and if he will make a statement. [38365]
Mr. Gummer: The measures and policy framework to assist local recycling are set out in the White Paper "Making Waste Work".
Energy Conservation
17. Mr. Eric Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent representations he has received regarding energy conservation. [38367]
Mr. Robert B. Jones: My right hon. Friend and I regularly receive a wide range of representations on this subject.
Area Cost Adjustment
18. Mr. Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the application of the area cost adjustment on local government funding. [38368]
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Mr. Gummer: In our consultation, all four local government organisations have expressed reservations about implementing this review and have asked for further work. I will consider the representations after my meeting with them tomorrow.
24. Mr. Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has to reform the area cost adjustment. [38374]
Sir Paul Beresford: We will be discussing the review of the area cost adjustment with the local authority associations tomorrow at the consultative council on local government finance. Once we have taken their views, we will decide how to proceed. [38374]
Sewage
19. Mr. Ainger: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of sewage outfalls into rivers or the sea receive tertiary treatment. [38369]
Coastal Management
20. Mr. Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the management of coastal areas. [38370]
Mr. Robert B. Jones: We recognise that coastal areas are an important resource and have taken a number of steps to promote their effective management. In England, these include creation of a national coastal forum, publication of policy guidelines for the coast and--later this month--the issue of a best practice guide to coastal management.
Pollution Report
21. Mr. Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the latest report of the royal commission on environmental pollution. [38371]
Mr. Gummer: We welcome the royal commission's 19th report on the "Sustainable Use of Soil." We are considering all its recommendations carefully and expect to publish a formal response to the report by the end of the year.
Local Government Conduct
22. Dr. Goodson-Wickes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent studies he has made of the conduct of local government. [38372]
Sir Paul Beresford: We have made no recent studies of the conduct of local government. However, the Nolan committee announced in June that its third study will examine aspects of conduct in local government in England, Scotland and Wales.
London Governance
23. Mr. Tony Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the governance of London. [38373]
Sir Paul Beresford: The current arrangements serve our capital city and the nation extremely well.
15 Oct 1996 : Column: 841
Wetlands
25. Mr. Dalyell:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress he has made on the conservation of wetlands in Europe. [38375]
Mr. Clappison: The Government have broadly welcomed the policy set out in the European Commission's communication on the wise use and conservation of wetlands. Many positive steps are already being taken in Europe to conserve wetlands under EU directives and international conventions. The UK makes a major contribution. For example, we have listed 107 internationally important wetlands under the Ramsar convention. Many wetland sites have also been classified as special protection areas under the birds directive. Other sites have been submitted to the Commission as candidate special areas for conservation under the habitats directive, and will be protected in the interim pending formal designation. [38375]
Housing
26. Mr. Hardy:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many homes are under construction and how many have been built during the last 12 months; and what were the equivalent figures in 1978-79. [38376]
Mr. Curry: It is estimated that 146,000 dwellings were completed in England during the 12 months to August 1996 and that 197,000 were under construction by the end of August. In comparison, some 227,000 dwellings were completed in the financial year 1978-79 and there were 339,000 under construction at the end of March 1979. [38376]
Global Warming
27. Mr. Cohen:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what new responses he plans to combat global warming (a) in the United Kingdom and (b) via international initiatives. [38377]
28. Mr. Corbyn:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action is being taken by his Department to meet its objectives in respect of carbon dioxide reductions. [38378]
Mr. Clappison: I am pleased to say that the UK is on target to meet the Rio commitment to return greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2000 and we expect carbon dioxide emissions to be 4 to 8 per cent. below 1990 levels. This achievement reflects the impact of measures set out in the UK climate change programme and the progress report on carbon dioxide emissions.
However, there is no room for complacency. The UK is one of only a handful of states which will meet the Rio commitment and, by the next climate change conference in December 1997, we need to have agreed significant reductions in emissions beyond 2000. That is why I have called on other states to agree to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 5 to 10 per cent below 1990 levels by 2010.
15 Oct 1996 : Column: 842
Mr. MacShane:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to ensure democratic accountability of integrated regional office officials in Yorkshire. [38379]
Mr. Curry:
As head of the Government office for Yorkshire and the Humber, the regional director remains accountable to each of my right hon. Friends the President of the Board of Trade and the Secretaries of State for Education and Employment and for Transport and to me for the delivery of our particular policies and programmes.
Mr. Peter Atkinson:
To ask the Secretary of state for the Environment how many tenants have exercised the right to buy in the last 12 months. [38366]
Mr. Curry:
In the year to March 1996, there were more than 31,500 right-to-buy sales by local authorities and new towns in England. Right to buy and other home ownership schemes are still producing about 180 new home owners a day in Britain.
Mr. Llew Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what environmental policy initiatives have been launched since 26 July. [38518]
Mr. Clappison:
During the parliamentary recess, we have been mainly concerned to develop initiatives which will be announced in this place shortly. Since 26 July, we have launched the following main environmental policy initiatives: consultation on air quality strategy; publication of circular on revised special waste regulations; and publication of draft statutory guidance on contaminated land. In addition, the landfill tax came into operation on 1 October.
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