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Animal Remains, Penistone
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the result of the examination by Doncaster museum of the remains of a body of an animal found on land at Flouch, near Penistone, South Yorkshire in August; and if he will make a statement.[40966]
Mr. Clappison: I will write to the hon. Member.
New Buildings and Premises
Mrs. Bridget Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total expenditure on new buildings and premises by his Department and its agencies; and if he will indicate the square footage of new office space purchased or newly rented in each of the last five years. [41145]
Sir Paul Beresford: I will write to the hon. Member.
Planning Inquiries
Mr. Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what procedures should be adopted when new Government guidance is issued following the close of a local planning inquiry but before the adoption of that plan; how the public and participants in the inquiry are to be kept informed and involved; and if he will make a statement. [41058]
Sir Paul Beresford: If new Government guidance is issued following the close of a local plan inquiry, but before the planning inspector issues his report, that new guidance will be taken into account by the inspector in making his recommendations. In considering the inspector's recommendations, the local planning authority will decide what formal modifications need to be made to the plan. If new guidance is issued after the inspector's report has been received by the local authority, then the authority will need to decide how it intends to take on board the new guidance through formal modifications to the plan. The processes involved in making modifications to the plan, and in keeping the public and participants in the inquiry informed, are detailed in the Town and Country Planning (Development Plan) Regulations 1991, and in the code of practice on development plans, issued by my Department as a booklet, "Development Plans: What you need to know". However, planning policy guidance note 12, paragraph 4.19 makes it clear that where new information becomes available at a late stage in the plan adoption process, and modification would only delay implementation of proposals not affected by the new information, it may be preferable to adopt the plan and start an early review.
Deaths at Work
Mr. Ian McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many deaths at work occurred in each of the last five years; how many cases the Health
16 Oct 1996 : Column: 1065
and Safety Executive has referred to the Crown Prosecution Service for consideration of manslaughter charges; how many prosecutions took place; and how many were successful. [41132]
Sir Paul Beresford: The number of deaths at work reported to all enforcing authorities, including local authorities, in each of the last five years is as follows:
| Deaths at work | |
|---|---|
| 1991-92 | 473 |
| 1992-93 | 452 |
| 1993-94 | 403 |
| 1994-95 | 376 |
| 1995-96(37) | 338 |
(37) Provisional.
| Year(38) | Number of cases referred to CPS | Prosecutions for manslaughter started by CPS | Guilty verdicts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992-93 | 12 | 2 | -- |
| 1993-94 | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| 1994-95 | 12 | 4 | 1 |
| 1995-96 | 9 | 2 | 1 |
| 1996-97 | 2 | -- | -- |
| Totals | 40 | 9 | 3 |
(38) Information for previous years is available only at disproportionate cost.
Contaminated Land
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the results of his Department's liaison with the Department of Trade and Industry in respect of compensation to English Partnerships relating to the clean-up of contaminated land used for coal extraction. [40962]
Sir Paul Beresford: I hope that an announcement can be made shortly.
Mr. McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many sentences in cases where companies were found guilty under health and safety law following the death at work of an employee, involved imprisonment; and how many resulted in fines of (a) less than £5,000, (b) £5.000 to £10,000, (c) £10,000 to £50,000 and (d) more than £50,000. [41134]
Sir Paul Beresford: Of the three cases in which people have been sent to prison following convictions under health and safety at work law, none followed a work-related death.
The other information requested is available only at disproportionate cost.
16 Oct 1996 : Column: 1066
Mr. Redmond:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many housing association houses were built in each South Yorkshire local authority in each of the last four years. [40965]
Mr. Clappison:
Estimates of dwellings completed by housing associations in each local authority area in England are shown in the publication "Local Housing Statistics". Figures for the years 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1995 are in issue numbers 109, 110, 117 and 118 respectively.
While these figures cover newly built accommodation, housing associations have also provided additional social lettings by the rehabilitation of existing properties and the various home incentive schemes, whose relative importance has been growing with the greater emphasis being placed on making more effective use of existing stock.
Mr. Allen:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he estimates he will publish the results of the review of the display screen equipment regulations; and if he will make a statement. [40849]
Sir Paul Beresford:
The results of the review of the Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992 are still being considered. As soon as this is completed, I hope the Health and Safety Commission will be able to publish the report.
Mrs. Helen Jackson:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the terms of reference of the committee reviewing the current revision of water byelaws and regulations with particular reference to setting standards for the construction and maintenance of sewerage systems. [40882]
Mr. Robert B. Jones:
The Water Regulations Advisory Committee's terms of reference are to advise the Secretary of State for the Environment on the requirements for plumbing installations and fittings to be included in water regulations made under powers in section 74 of the Water Industry Act 1991 and on other technical matters connected with the regulations.
As provided for under section 74, the regulations will deal with contamination, waste, undue consumption and misuse of water in premises; they will not set standards for the construction and maintenance of sewerage systems.
The extension of the current water byelaws, membership of the committee and a timetable of meetings was announced by departmental press release on 14 October. Copies of the press release are available in the House Library.
16 Oct 1996 : Column: 1067
Mr. Jessel:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the conditions for permitted development in respect of a bungalow in an outer-London borough. [40941]
Sir Paul Beresford:
Householders may make certain types of minor changes to their dwellings without needing to apply for planning permission. These "permitted developments" are prescribed in the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995. For a bungalow in outer London the following developments, among others, would be permitted:
Mr. Devlin:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Enviornment when the findings of the analysis of the 1991 census commissioned from Newcastle university will be available. [40956]
Mr. Curry:
This is being published today. Copies of the report "Urban Trends in England: Latest Evidence from the 1991 Census" have been lodged in the Library of the House.
(i) the extension of the dwelling, providing the enlargement does not exceed 70 cubic metres at 15 per cent. (whichever is the greater) and providing in any case that the volume of the original house is not increased by more than 115 cubic metres;
I am sending an extract of the general permitted development order and a booklet describing its contents to my hon. Friend.
(ii) the addition or alteration of a roof, providing the altered roof slope does not face a highway, and providing the addition does not increase the overall height of the dwelling nor add more than 50 cu m to the volume of the house. (Any additional volume created by a roof extension counts against the total volume limits of (i) above).
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