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Nuclear Power Stations (Decommissioning)

Mr. Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the environmental impact of delaying the rate of decommissioning of nuclear power stations. [8047]

Mr. Clappison: Environmental impact assessment--EIA--of the decommissioning of nuclear power stations will be a new requirement, included in the proposed directive to amend EC directive 85/337/EEC--"the EIA directive". The Government are considering how this and other new requirements should be implemented.

Animals (Traditional Habitats)

Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to reintroduce fish species into habitats from which they have disappeared because of industrial and farming pollution. [7495]

Mr. Clappison: The Environment Agency identifies deficiencies in fish stocks through routine fishery surveys. Where the cause of such deficiencies is water pollution, the agency considers restocking as one of the options for restoring fisheries once the pollution has been remedied. In many cases, fish will recolonise naturally. More generally, the species recovery programme, which

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contributes to the UK biodiversity action plan, is concerned with the reintroduction of species of flora and fauna to traditional habitats.

Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to reintroduce mammal species into traditional habitats in which they no longer occur. [7496]

Mr. Clappison: The species recovery programme--SRP--initiated in 1991 is a high priority for countryside agencies and makes an important contribution to the UK biodiversity action plan. The programme seeks to reintroduce species of flora and fauna to traditional habitats in which they no longer occur.

In addition to established SRPs, work is being advanced for the reintroduction of the dormouse, red squirrel and the otter. These measures accord with objectives outlined in the Government-endorsed UK steering group report on biodiversity, which sets out action plans for mammals and includes objectives and targets for the reintroduction of some mammals to areas where they have been lost.

Single Regeneration Budget (Bradford, West)

Mr. Madden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to announce his decision on the Bradford, West SRB bid; and if he will make a statement. [8006]

Sir Paul Beresford: Shortly.

Departmental Staff (Education)

Ms Armstrong: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many of his staff at G5 and above were educated at (a) independent schools, (b) the university of Oxford or the university of Cambridge and (c) independent schools and the universities of Oxford or Cambridge. [7981]

Sir Paul Beresford: No central record is kept of the status or type of school attended by members of the senior civil service in this Department. Thirty five-of-22 per cent. senior civil service officers attended the university of Oxford and 45--28 per cent.--attended the university of Cambridge. Therefore, 80--50 per cent.--attended the universities of Oxford or Cambridge.

Air Pollution

Mr. David Martin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made in respect of the system of local air pollution control which was established under part I of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. [8338]

Mr. Clappison: The Government have today published a progress report on the implementation of the system of local air pollution control which was established under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

The local air pollution control system specifies processes which are not to be operated without an authorisation from the relevant local authority. One of the main objectives of the system is to reduce industrial emissions and to improve local air quality.

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The report show that, since 1991, business has submitted some 15,000 applications for authorisation. Local authorities have decided 92 per cent. of all applications. This is a considerable achievement, given the task which local authorities faced, not least in familiarising themselves with new legislation, procedure and technical information.

The report also highlights the important role local air pollution control will play in the successful development of the new system of local air quality management, which was established under the Environment Act 1995.

Local air pollution control should result in substantial improvements in air quality in locations where industry has been a significant air pollution source, helping us to achieve air quality targets and commitments.

For example, a large number of industrial emitters of volatile organic compounds fall within local air pollution control. The Government's strategy to secure a 30 per cent. reduction in annual volatile organic compound emissions between 1988 and 1999 places considerable reliance on the reductions in emissions of volatile organic compounds which will result from local air pollution control. Present indications are that, by 1999, the reduction may be of the order of 40 per cent., reflecting a significant contribution by local air pollution control.

One reason for the success of local air pollution control has been the adoption of a partnership approach. Central and local government, business and wider interests have been actively involved in the development of both policies and procedures.

While local air pollution control now appears to be firmly established and is operating effectively, the next five years will involve new challenges, including a substantial amount of upgrading of existing processes over the next two years. The report, which we have published today, will help to develop a clear view of the issues which face local air pollution control in the next few years and the priorities which should guide its development.

I have arranged for a copy of the report to be placed in the Library of the House.

British Waterways

Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he proposes to begin consultations concerning the possibility of British Waterways becoming a statutory consultee within the planning process. [8333]

Mr. Robert B. Jones: I have today issued a consultation paper seeking views on a proposal that British Waterways should in future be consulted on planning applications that are likely to affect the canals, river navigation and reservoirs it owns or manages, and the associated canal feeders, watercourses and let-offs. Our concern at present is that British Waterways is not always being made aware of proposals that may affect the stability and integrity of the waterways for which it is responsible, with potential cost implications for all concerned. Copies of the paper have been placed in the House Libraries and distributed to local authorities and other interested organisations. We have asked for responses by 17 January 1997.

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Contaminated Land

Mr. Bennett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what provision other than supplementary credit approvals has been made by central Government for local authorities in respect of their responsibilities in relation to contaminated land under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 in each year since 1993; and what provision he expects to be made in this respect for future years. [7920]

Mr. Clappison [holding answer 6 December 1996]: Each year, the Government set a level of revenue spending--total standard spending, or TSS--which they consider appropriate for local authorities, in aggregate, to spend. TSS is made up from seven main service blocks. Provision for local authorities' existing expenditure on contaminated land under the statutory nuisance regime in part III of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 forms part of the other services block, as will revenue spending under the specific contaminated land regime in part IIA of that Act when those provisions are brought into force.

In deciding on the appropriate level of TSS each year, the Government take account of all spending pressures faced by local authorities, as well as the scope for efficiency savings and what the country as a whole can afford. TSS, however, is the Government's assessment of the appropriate level of spending in total. It is not possible to identify how much has been included to meet individual burdens or pressures.

Apart from the contaminated land supplementary credit approval programme, no specific provision is made by central Government for capital expenditure by local authorities in relation to their responsibilities for contaminated land under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Public Bodies

Mr. John D. Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many appointments to public bodies have been made on the recommendation of the Irish Government in each of the last 15 months. [6117]

Sir John Wheeler: Appointments are not made on the recommendation of the Irish Government. The Irish Government are entitled to propose candidates for consideration, alongside other candidates, for appointment to public bodies in Northern Ireland. The number of appointments made in each of the last 15 months of candidates proposed by the Irish Government is as follows:

Month	Number of appointments resulting from Irish Government proposals
1995
September	0
October	0
November	0
December	0
1996
January	2
February	1
March	2
April	1
May	1
June	2
July	1
August	1
September	0
October	1
November	(14)0
Total	12

(14) Up to 27 November.

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Six of the appointments made in 1996 resulted from proposals made in 1995.

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