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Derelict Land Grant (Corby)

Mr. William Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much was paid in derelict land grant to Corby district borough council in each year since 1979.[11068]

Sir Paul Beresford: Information about expenditure from 1979-80 to 1994-94 was given in my answer of 26 April 1995, Official Report, columns 530-31. English Partnerships paid £2,148,392 from its land reclamation programme in 1995-96. There have been no payments as yet in the current financial year, but English Partnerships expects to make a payment of £193,000.

Landlords (Gas Appliance Safety)

Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he has taken to ensure that landlords comply with the amendment made to regulation 35 of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1994 by the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 1996: and if he will make a statement. [10952]

Sir Paul Beresford: Gas safety publicity is an important plank in the Health and Safety Commission's strategy for promoting compliance by duty holders with gas safety legislation. The duties enjoined on relevant landlords by the second amendment to the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1994, as amended, are the primary focus of the commission's current gas-related carbon monoxide poisoning publicity campaign.

Enforcement of the 1994 regulations is a priority activity for the Health and Safety Executive. There was more than a tenfold increase in formal enforcement action against landlords for breaches of regulation 35A in 1995-96 compared with 1994-95. Enforcement of the 1994 regulations, including the second amendment, will continue to be a priority activity for the HSE.

Telecommunications Masts

Sir Nicholas Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce measures to ensure (a) that the direction of all telecommunications masts is properly controlled and (b) that numbers are kept to the practical minimum in (i) Dorset and (ii) the United Kingdom. [11581]

Sir Paul Beresford: Controls over the erection of telecommunications masts are already in place. Masts over 15 m in height require a full application for planning permission wherever they are located, as do all masts in specified protected areas. Outside these areas, licensed telecommunications operators have the right to erect masts up to 15 m in height, subject to a prior approval procedure operated by local planning authorities under the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995. To help minimise the number of masts, our planning policy guidance encourages mast sharing wherever practicable and licences issued under the Telecommunications Act require operators to consider this. These controls apply to England and Wales. Other controls are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and my right. hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

20 Jan 1997 : Column: 437

Ancient Hedgerows

Mr. Donald Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the implications of the judgment in Hull county court by Judge Cracknell concerning the preservation of ancient hedgerows. [11424]

Mr. Clappison: In the case referred to, Mr Colin Seymour and the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust obtained from Hull county court a declaration that Flamborough parish council is bound for ever by the Flamborough Inclosures Act 1765, and subsequent award under it, to maintain a particular hedge that is owned by the council. The judge heard only one side of the argument. However, his judgment illustrates that obligations arising under Inclosure Acts and awards may still be enforceable; and that, in appropriate circumstances, the court may find that a local resident has locus standi to challenge the failure of a local authority to perform them. As he pointed out, the outcome depended on the wording of the particular Inclosure Act and award, and others may be expressed differently. It would therefore be wrong to read too much into this case.

Radioactive Waste (Disposal)

Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has received a copy of the memorandum by John Holmes of the Nirex science department, dated 10 December 1996, concerning the outstanding scientific matters that need attention in regard to the rock characterisation facility and proposals for the disposal of radioactive wastes. [11801]

Mr. Clappison: Yes.

Stockton City Challenge

Mr. Devlin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to publish his decision on the public inquiry into the Stockton city challenge scheme for the redevelopment of Stockton high street. [11871]

Sir Paul Beresford: Good progress is being made in considering the inspector's report and a significant amount of post-inquiry correspondence. Some complex issues are involved which need careful consideration, and the decision will be issued as soon as it is practicable to do so.

Christ the King School

Mr. Wilshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will (a) make a statement on and (b) announce a decision on, the application referred to him by Spelthorne borough council to divert a footpath currently running through the playground of Christ the King school, Stanwell. [10916]

Sir Paul Beresford: The order will be decided by an inspector appointed by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State following an exchange of written representations between Spelthorne borough council and the objector. The exchange of representations is complete and the inspector will visit the site before making his decision on the order.

20 Jan 1997 : Column: 438

Building Research Establishment

Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the total financial allocation (a) from his Department and (b) from other Government Departments and agencies for research to be carried out by the Building Research Establishment executive agency in (a) 1996-97 and (b) 1997-98. [11268]

Mr. Robert B. Jones: The total amount expected to be spent at the Building Research Establishment in 1996-97 by my Department will be in the order of £32 million.

The Department is discussing with BRE proposed contracts for 1997-98, when it is anticipated that BRE will be in the private sector.

In 1996-97, other Government Departments have commissioned work valued at £2.1 million. It is a matter for individual Departments to decide whether and when to let contracts to BRE in 1997-98.

Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the names and qualifications of the Building Research Establishment executive agency visitors. [11270]

Mr. Jones: The visitors of the Building Research Establishment executive agency are appointed by its chief executive, and I have asked him to reply.

Letter from R.G. Courtney to Mrs. Gwyneth Dunwoody, dated 16 January 1997:


















I regret that we do not hold details of their qualifications.

Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what sources of professional advice his Department will have available after the transfer of

20 Jan 1997 : Column: 439

the Building Research Establishment executive agency to the private sector to enable his Department to arbitrate on plans for novel buildings; and if he will make a statement. [11272]

Mr. Jones: My Department employs its own professional officers to advise on cases referred to it under the Building Act 1984, but where appropriate advice will continue to be sought from the Building Research Establishment after its transfer to the private sector.

Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the total amount allocated to the negotiated research programme for the Building Research Establishment executive agency for the financial year 1996-97 by his Department. [11267]

Mr. Jones: The total amount expected to be spent at the Building Research Establishment in 1996-97 under the negotiated construction research programme is £15.85 million.

Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he is taking to ensure the continuing maintenance of the Buildings Research Establishment executive agency's large building test facility at Cardington after the transfer of the agency to the private sector. [11275]

Mr. Jones: In response to a question from my right hon. Friend the Member for Watford (Mr. Garel-Jones) on 2 April 1996, Official Report, columns 163-64, my right hon. Friend made it clear that the Government want BRE to remain a single entity. That is the basis on which BRE is being offered for sale.

Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consultations he has undertaken to solicit the views of the construction industries throughout the United Kingdom regarding his intention to transfer the Building Research Establishment executive agency to the private sector; and if he will make a statement. [11280]

Mr. Jones: A large number of construction industry bodies were consulted as part of the review of the options for privatisation of BRE carried out by PA Consulting. In addition, three senior industry representatives were members of the advisory group which oversaw PA Consulting's work.

Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps are being taken to ensure that those parts of the land on which the Building Research Establishment executive agency is situated which are sites of special scientific interest will be protected in the event of the transfer of the Building Research Establishment to the private sector. [11278]

Mr. Jones: There are no sites of special scientific interest on the sites occupied by the Building Research Establishment.

20 Jan 1997 : Column: 440

Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when funding for the negotiated research programme for the Building Research Establishment executive agency for the financial year 1997-98 will be allocated by his Department. [11266]

Mr. Jones: Within the Department the allocation for construction research programmes has been made. The Department is discussing with BRE proposed contracts for 1997-98, when it is anticipated that BRE will be in the private sector.

Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action is being taken to establish the nature of the waste deposited in refuse tips on land on which the Building Research Establishment executive agency is sited at Garston, and the extent of the contamination of that waste; and if he will make a statement. [11279]

Mr. Jones: An environmental liabilities audit was commissioned by the Department as part of the preparation for the sale of BRE. This concluded that the area of the Garston site previously used for tipping does not present a risk to the current activities.

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