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Blight
Mr. Rowe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to publish the report of the interdepartmental working group on blight. [20607]
Mr. Robert B. Jones:
The interdepartmental working group on blight was established to review the scope, cause and effects of blight arising during the various stages of major infrastructure projects and to consider whether any practical changes could be made to existing arrangements for property purchase and compensation. The group published a discussion paper last June and a progress report, which set out the various proposals that had been
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put to group, was published last November. Since then the group has been evaluating these ideas and assessing the costs and benefits of various options. That work has yet to be completed. I anticipate that the group will now complete its work in about the middle of this year.
In addition to a consideration of possible changes to the purchase and compensation arrangements, the group is looking at steps that might be taken to reduce the blighting effects of projects by, for example, speeding up decision processes and reducing uncertainty. On 14 January I announced consultations on proposals to speed up both the development plans and planning appeals processes, all of which has the potential to reduce blight. However, the group has drawn attention to two ideas which might be pursued ahead of its final report. I therefore propose to begin consultation on ways of reducing the blighting effects of infrastructure projects which are shown on statutory development plans, but which have subsequently been abandoned, and on developing a code of good practice on the timely dissemination of information about projects by major infrastructure developers. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland is considering similar proposals.
Sir Sydney Chapman:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on his policy in respect of the listed buildings in the green belt. [20608]
Mr. Robert B. Jones:
National policy for green belts is set out in our planning policy guidance note 2 and for listed buildings in planning policy guidance note 15. PPG2 confirms the importance which the Government attach to green belts, and maintains the general presumption against "inappropriate" development within them--as detailed in PPG2. Very special circumstances are needed to outweigh this presumption. The Government also attach a high priority to protecting the historic environment and to ensuring that the special architectural or historic interest of listed buildings is fully recognised. PPG15 makes clear that, in general, the best way of ensuring the upkeep of historic buildings is to keep them in active use; and PPG2 advises that suitable reuse of a building is to be preferred to redevelopment where it is of architectural or historic interest.
Where a change of use, extension or alteration to a listed building in the green belt would be essential for, or contribute significantly to, ensuring a viable future for the building or for maintaining it in good order, this could constitute or contribute to the "very special circumstances" which can justify inappropriate development in the green belt. Proposals would have to be of a high standard of design to complement or enhance their surroundings; and any proposals would need listed building consent as well as planning permission.
Mr. John Marshall:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to publish the research on "CCT and Local Authority Blue-Collar Services" by Austin Mayhead and Co. [20672]
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Sir Paul Beresford:
My Department will publish today research on "CCT and Local Authority Blue-Collar Services" by Austin Mayhead and Co. It followed up an earlier piece of research into blue-collar compulsory competitive tendering carried out by the institute of local government studies at the university of Birmingham.
This research confirms the progress that has been made in achieving greater efficiency and value for money in the delivery of local authority services through fair competition between in-house teams and private contractors. Average annual savings from blue-collar CCT in the second round are running at 9 per cent. compared with 6.5 per cent. in the first round. Most authorities recognise that the quality of CCT services has improved since the first round. Three quarters said that CCT had resulted in clearer and more comprehensive service specifications and two thirds thought it had resulted in a closer reflection of consumer needs.
Only a minority--11 per cent.--of authorities, however, are supportive of the compulsory element of the CCT regime and almost a third said they would not undertake competitive tendering of services should compulsion be removed.
The report looks at the experiences of authorities during the second round of tendering for blue-collar services and analyses data on costs, number of bids, changes in specifications and other factual information about contracts.
I will place in the Library today copies of the executive summary of a copy of the full report entitled "CCT and Local Authority Blue-Collar Services".
Mr. Bernard Jenkin:
To ask the Prime Minister what is the current membership of the public sector pay review bodies. [20512]
The Prime Minister:
The current membership, with effect from 1 April 1997, is as listed:
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Mr. Gordon Prentice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what estimate he has made of the annual cost to local authorities of (a) drawing up and (b) maintaining their contingency plans for dealing with marine oil pollution; [19299]
Mr. Bowis:
I have asked the chief executive of the Coastguard agency, Mr. Chris Harris, to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from C. J. Harris to Mr. Gordon Prentice, dated 13 March 1997:
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Mr. Pawsey:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 5 March, Official Report, column 609, if he will instruct the Highways Agency to publish figures relating to the regularity of litter collection on the M45. [19562]
Mr. Watts:
I have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency to write to the hon. Member.
Senior salaries review body
Sir Michael Perry CBE (Chairman)
Sir Gordon Hourston
Sir Anthony Wilson
Sir Sydney Lipworth QC
Mrs. Rosemary Day
Ms Patricia Mann
Mr. Mark Sheldon
The Hon. Michael Beloff QC
Professor Sandra Dawson
Mr. David Clayman.
Armed forces pay review body
Sir Gordon Hourston (Chairman)
Mr. Michael Bolton
Mrs. Dorothy Venables
Mr. John Cox OBE
Mr. John Crosby
Vice Admiral Sir Toby Frere KCB (from July 1997)
Sir Gavin Laird CBE
Mrs. Kay Coleman.
Review body on nursing staff, midwives, health visitors and professions allied to medicine
Mr. Bryan Rigby (Chairman)
Miss Anne Mackie OBE
Professor Gillian Raab
Ms Ruth Lea
Mrs. Shelia Gleig
Mrs. Anne Dean
Mr. Lawrence Lyndon Haddon
Mr. Keith Miles.
Review body on doctors and dentists remuneration
Mr. Brandon Gough (Chairman)
Mrs. Carol Hui
Dr. Elizabeth Nelson
Mr. David Penton
Mr. Michael Innes
Mr. Christopher King CBE
Mrs. Beryl Brewer
Mr. Roderick Jackson.
School teachers review body
Mr. Tony Vineall
Mrs. Brigita Amey
Mr. Michael Harding
Mrs. Julia Cuthbetson
Miss Janet Langdon
Mr. Peter Gelding
Mr. Vincent Harris.
(2) what arrangements are in place to check the adequacy and resilience of local authority contingency plans for dealing with marine oil pollution. [19300]
The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent Questions about the costs to local authorities of drawing up and maintaining their contingency plans for dealing with marine oil pollution and the adequacy and resilience of these plans.
The forthcoming review of the National Contingency Plan will include an exercise to identify the costs to local authorities of preparing and maintaining contingency plans.
The National Contingency Plan, maintained by the Agency's Marine Pollution Control Unit (MPCU) states that "each coastal local authority at district, island, county or regional level, should have a contingency plan so that an effective counter-pollution response may be effected speedily at any time." A copy of the August 1996 version is now in the House of Commons Library.
Annex 11 of the National Contingency Plan contains a list of items which should be included in local authority plans. MPCU encourages local authorities to submit their plans for the Unit to
check that they are consistent with the National Plan. The Unit notifies them of any omissions and may make suggestions for amendments and improvements. MPCU also holds four one week residential training courses for local authority staff, covering all aspects of contingency planning. It encourages local authorities to exercise their plans and carry out training using equipment from MPCU's stockpiles. From time to time MPCU takes part in local authority exercises and incorporates local authorities into MPCU's exercises.
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