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Housing
Mr. Hunter:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the scheme for construction contracts under the Housing Grant, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996 will become operative. [21138]
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Mr. Clappison:
The consultation paper, "Making the Scheme for Construction Contracts", which the Department of the Environment published last November, pointed out that it was reasonable to assume that the scheme would not be laid before Parliament before spring 1997. We have made good progress with the consultation exercise but it is now clear that we will not be laying the scheme in the current Session.
The consultation document canvassed views about the need for an "adjustment period" between the making of the scheme and the implementation of the complete legislative package. The responses showed that an adjustment period of a few months could well be needed. The precise duration may depend, to some extent, on the date the scheme is approved by Parliament.
Mr. Sykes:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the Government will implement revised arrangements for administering European structural funds for England. [21388]
Mr. Curry:
Following my announcement of 3 December 1996, Official Report, column 580, we notified the European Commission about the revised arrangements, and issued draft administrative guidance to programme monitoring committee partners, the local authority associations and the Training and Enterprise Councils National Council. The consultation demonstrated general support for introducing a more strategic, integrated approach to the administration of European structural fund programmes in England through the introduction of action plans and a single European regional development fund vote. Detailed points have been made about the implementation of this approach which the Government will consider further.
We expect the European Commission to agree the 1997 to 1999 objective 2 programmes during April. To ensure that work on the implementation of these programmes can proceed without delay, we shall therefore finalise and issue the administrative guidance as soon as possible.
The Government have taken account of the views of local partners about the position in the Mersyside objective 1 area where, as with objective 5(b) areas, there is an on-going six-year programme covering the period until December 1999. In all these areas, the revised arrangements will apply where the appropriate programme monitoring committees wish to adopt them for the remaining life of the current programmes.
Mr. Sykes:
To ask the secretary of State for the Environment when he will announce the final receipt from the sale of the Housing Corporation's loan portfolio to NatWest Markets. [21389]
Mr. Curry:
The purchase price will be subject to changes in the underlying portfolio and to movements in the gilt rate until completion on 26 March, and I cannot therefore give a figure for the final sale receipt until after Parliament has risen. However, I shall write to my hon. Friend when the final figure is available, and place copies of the letter in the House Libraries.
19 Mar 1997 : Column: 603
Mr. Garel-Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if his Department has yet completed the sale of the Building Research Establishment. [21423]
Mr. Robert B. Jones:
Yes. The sale transaction was completed earlier today.
Mr. Olner:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the mean (a) winter season and (b) annual concentrations of nitrogen dioxide at each national air quality monitoring site in each year since 1986-87, or the first year when the site commenced monitoring. [20276]
Mr. Clappison:
A copy of the requested information, for national automatic air quality monitoring sites, has been placed in the Library of the House. Statistical information on air quality, including nitrogen dioxide, is also available in the Department of the Environment's "Digest of Environmental Statistics No. 18, 1996" and "Air Pollution in the United Kingdom: 1995" published on behalf of the Department by the National Environmental Technology Centre. Copies of both reports have been placed in the Library of the House of Commons.
Mr. Matthew Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to ensure that Nirex prepares quantitative analysis of the in-model and out-of-model factors which could significantly affect the calculated risk produced by Nirex 97. [20677]
Mr. Clappison:
None. However, Nirex will need to satisfy the Environment Agency of the robustness of its safety case for any underground repository.
Mr. Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will send Cumbria county council copies of the Nirex reports N94, N96, N97, N98 and N99; [20676]
Mr. Clappison:
The Department does not have copies of these reports.
Mr. Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is the relationship between the identified geological features and the measured responses reported in Nirex report 5/96/003; [20678]
Mr. Clappison:
This information should be requested from UK Nirex Ltd.
Mr. David Nicholson:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received about delays to preparations for, or provision of information about, the proposed business rate relief for
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village shops and similar businesses; and if he will make a statement on the timetable for implementing such relief. [20453]
Sir Paul Beresford:
I have received a number of representations about rate relief for village shops. To allow local authorities sufficient time to prepare for the scheme, we intend to bring the rate relief measures into force from 1 April 1998.
Mr. Nicholson:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals have been put to him, since 1 January 1995, from organisations representing small businesses, for (a) abolition of the business rates system and its replacement by another system for raising revenue and (b) fundamental changes in this system as it affects small businesses; and which proposals were received from more than one such organisation. [20452]
Sir Paul Beresford:
I have received a number of different proposals from organisations representing small businesses for the reform of the rating system.
Ms Walley:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to identify special areas of conservation, under the EU habitats and species directive, for harbour porpoises; and if he will make a statement. [20518]
Mr. Clappison:
None. The available scientific evidence is insufficient to identify sites which meet the requirements set out in article 4(1) of the directive relating to aquatic species which range over wide areas.
Sir Irvine Patnick:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much land has been reclaimed by development corporations since their inception; and if he will make a statement. [20470]
Mr. Curry:
The urban development corporations have made substantial progress in the reclamation of derelict and contaminated land.
A total of 2,976.3 hectares of land had been reclaimed up to 31 March 1996.
Mr. Matthew Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the report TR-Z2-11 (Oldfield 95) prepared for HMIP. [20691]
Mr. Clappison:
None. This is a matter for the Environment Agency.
Ms Walley:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the current arrangements for health and safety inspections carried out at go-kart circuits; and if he will make a statement. [20539]
Sir Paul Beresford:
Operators of go-karts are either employers or self-employed people conducting an undertaking. As such, they are subject to the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974 and relevant regulations under the Act.
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Circuits are inspected by either the Health and Safety Executive or local authorities depending on the main activity at the premises.
Ms Walley:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what provisions are included in the Building Regulations 1991 (a) to ensure that underground drainage systems are resistant to damage by rats and (b) to prevent rats escaping from the sewerage systems; and if he will make a statement. [20987]
Mr. Clappison:
The Building Regulations 1991 are cast in functional form, and as such contain no specific guidance on protecting underground drainage systems from rats. However guidance on the construction of drainage systems is provided in the approved document to part H of the Building Regulations, and includes advice on measures to deal with infestation of drains and private sewers by rodents.
(2) if he will place in the Library a copy of the Nirex DSAT reports N95, N96, N97, N98 and N99. [20955]
(2) what period of time will be allowed for independent peer review of the document Nirex 97. [20679]
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