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Dental Services
Mr. Edwards:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many dentists in (a) Abergavenny, (b) Monmouth and (c) Chepstow provide dental treatment under the national health service. [2373]
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Mr. Win Griffiths:
The number of General Dental Practitioners with at least one contract to treat NHS patients is as follows:
| Principals | |
|---|---|
| Abergavenny | 8 |
| Monmouth | 8 |
| Chepstow | 10 |
Source:
Dental Practice Board.
ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS
ENVIRONMENT AND THE REGIONS
Vehicles on Byways
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport, and the Regions what plans his Department has to publish the results of the consultation process on vehicles on byways; and if he will make a statement. [2117]
Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the time scale for publication of the results of the consultation process on vehicles on byways; and if he will make a statement. [2787]
Mr. Meacher: We are considering the issue of the consultation exercise on vehicles on byways, which was undertaken last year. We intend to make an announcement shortly.
Single Regeneration Budget
Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to encourage bids from the most deprived areas of the United Kingdom for round 4 of the single regeneration budget; and if he will make a statement. [2152]
Ms Angela Eagle: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister for the Regions, Regeneration and Planning to my hon. Friend the Member for Leicester, East (Mr. Vaz) on 22 May 1997, Official Report, column 152, which indicated that there will be greater emphasis in the assessment of proposals for support from Round 4 of the SRB Challenge Fund on tackling the needs of communities in the most deprived areas.
Minimum Wage
Mr. Tom King: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what research has been commissioned and what estimates have been made by his Department, and what information presented to him, regarding the costs per annum to local authorities in England of the introduction of a minimum wage at (a) £3.50 an hour, (b) £4 an hour and (c) £4.40 an hour; and if he will make a statement; [2123]
- (2) what research has been commissioned and what estimates have been made by his Department, and what information presented to him, regarding the costs per annum to the Department of the Environment budget of
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- the introduction of a minimum wage at (a) £3.50 an hour, (b) £4 an hour and (c) £4.40 an hour; and if he will make a statement. [2124]
Mr. Raynsford: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade on Monday 9 June 1997, Official Report, column 310.
English House Condition Survey
Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to publish the energy report relating to the 1996 English House Condition Survey; and if he will make a statement. [2212]
Mr. Raynsford: We expect to publish detailed energy findings from the 1996 English House Condition Survey by Autumn 1998. However, some information on heating facilities and thermal insulation, will be included in the main report of this survey, scheduled for publication before the end of this year.
Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what action he proposes following the report of the findings of the energy survey contained within the 1991 English House Condition Survey. [2211]
Mr. Raynsford: The Government is committed to improving the energy efficiency of the housing stock revealed by the 1991 English House Condition Survey. Despite existing provisions to promote energy efficiency and to improve the stock--through the Home Energy Conservation Act, the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme, the work of the Energy Saving Trust and the Department's best practice programme and through private sector renovation grants and the housing renewal programmes of local authorities and housing associations, there is still a substantial backlog of housing in poor condition and with unsatisfactory energy efficiency characteristics. The Government is reviewing policies to achieve more effective action to remedy sub-standard and energy inefficient housing. New Supplementary Credit Approvals issued as a result of the Capital Receipts' initiative will allow local authorities to proceed more quickly with action to tackle these problems to the extent that they fit with local priorities.
VAT on Domestic Fuel
Mr. Dafis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to ensure that the proposed reduction in the rate of VAT on domestic fuel does not lead to an increase in carbon dioxide emissions. [2082]
Ms Angela Eagle: Protection from the effects of global warming and the development of sustainable environmental policies cannot proceed in isolation from considerations of social equity.
We estimate that the reduction in VAT on domestic fuel to 5 per cent. will result in an annual increase in carbon dioxide emissions of about 0.24 million tonnes of carbon by 2010, (about 0.15 per cent. of current carbon
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dioxide emissions). We shall take account of this effect in developing the programme to meet our target to reduce total carbon dioxide emissions by 20 per cent. by 2010.
We are developing policy options which will contribute towards our 2010 target and which will include improvements in domestic and industrial energy efficiency, an integrated transport policy to tackle the projected growth in emissions from road transport, and an increase in the amount of electricity generated from renewable sources and combined heat and power schemes.
Mr. Bob Russell:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will review the funding allocated to Essex county council in the 1997-98 Revenue Support Grant in respect of care of the elderly. [2077]
Mr. Raynsford:
The distribution of Revenue Support Grant for 1997-98 is now a closed matter, having been approved by Parliament in February as part of the Local Government Finance Settlement. Discussions with local government on the distribution of Revenue Support Grant for 1998-99 are currently in progress. The standard spending assessment for elderly residential social services is among the elements which we expect to examine this year.
Ms Walley:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how he plans to assess the effectiveness of schemes currently supported by the single regeneration budget challenge funds; and if he will make a statement. [2151]
Ms Angela Eagle:
The Government has commissioned the Department of Land Economy at the University of Cambridge to carry out a long term evaluation of the Single Regeneration Budget Challenge Fund, which will include an assessment of the effectiveness of schemes supported by the Challenge Fund.
The Department intends to obtain value for money for its expenditure on the Single Regeneration Budgets.
Mr. Vaz:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what are the sums currently held by each local housing authority in respect of capital receipts. [2160]
Mr. Raynsford:
I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my hon. Friend, the Minister for Local Government and Housing on 4 June 1997, Official Report, column 198.
Mr. Vaz:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many out-of town development schemes are awaiting decision by him.[2163]
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Mr. Raynsford:
We have seven cases awaiting decision by my right hon. Friend, following receipt of the Inspector's report.
Mr. Vaz:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions for how long each called-in planning application in England has been awaiting decision. [2451]
Mr. Raynsford:
The following table lists by Government Office region those called-in planning applications in England which are currently awaiting determination following receipt of the Inspector's report.
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