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Water Companies
Dr. Tony Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will take steps to ensure that water companies take responsibility for leaks from domestic supply pipes. [2534]
Ms Angela Eagle: It is our view that leakage rates are still far too high. At the Water Summit on 19 May, my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister announced that the Director General of Water Services would set tough mandatory targets for total leakage, including leakage from consumers pipes. Many water companies already provide a free leakage detection and repair service for supply pipes owned by household customers. My right hon. Friend asked all companies to consider providing this service.
Herbal Medicines
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to meet representatives from the national Institute of Medical Herbalists to discuss the use of rare plants in herbal medicine and commercial cultivation projects; and if he will make a statement. [2702]
Ms Angela Eagle: The United Kingdom is to present a paper on traditional medicines to the Conference of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), currently taking place in Harare. The aim of the paper is not to question the importance of traditional medicine as a legitimate form of medicinal treatment, but to encourage the search for ways in which its use can continue without threatening species in the wild with extinction. At present we have no immediate plans to meet the National Institute of Medicinal Herbalists, but have consulted relevant UK organisations, including representatives of the herbal medicine sector. We have also received the support of Japan and the Republic of Korea.
Endangered Species
Mr. Flynn:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans his
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Department has to encourage the extension of the international controlled trade list of endangered species; and if he will make a statement. [2703]
Ms Angela Eagle:
A new EC Regulation implementing the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species within the Community took effect on 1 June. It includes all species listed on CITES together with additional species whose import into the Community will be monitored by Member States.
The next CITIES Conference of the Parties is currently taking place in Harare, and will consider proposals for amending the species lists. The United Kingdom will consider these carefully in co-ordination with other EU Member States.
Mr. Campbell-Savours:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what compensation was paid to residents of West Cumbria for reasons of blight following upon NIREX's proposals for the disposal of nuclear waste in the area; [2243]
Mr. Raynsford:
Neither UK Nirex Ltd's proposal for a Rock Characterisation Facility near Sellafield, which was rejected by the local planning authority and on appeal by the Secretary of State, nor their consideration of alternatives sites, which they no longer plan to carry forward, gives rise to any entitlement to compensation for planning blight.
Mr. Campbell-Savours:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what reports on proposals for potential nuclear waste disposal sites have been brought to the attention of Ministers in the last six weeks. [2242]
Ms Angela Eagle:
DOE Ministers have received no reports on proposals for potential nuclear waste disposal sites other than in respect of Nirex's investigations of Sellafield and Dounreay.
Mr. David Heath:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received concerning planning applications APP/R3325/E/96/811767, APP/R3325/E/96 812513, APP/R3325/A/95/254103 and APP/R3325/A/96/265998, referring to the Red Lion Hotel, Somerton; and if he will uphold the recommendations of the planning inspector, Mr. S. L. Dickinson, following the inquiry of 29 to 31 May 1996. [2835]
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Mr. Raynsford:
To date 22 representations have been received. Inspector's recommendations will be taken in to account along with the further representations in reaching a decision on how to proceed with determining the applications.
Mr. Dawson:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to re-surface the M6 motorway between Lancaster university and junction 34 with noise-reducing material. [2834]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency to write to my hon. Friend.
Letter from Laurie Haynes to Mr. Hilton Dawson, dated 10 June 1997:
The Minister for Transport in London has asked me to reply to your recent question about the plans to resurface the M6 motorway between Lancaster University and Junction 34 and the use of noise reducing material.
Mr. MacShane:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received from European Governments about proposals by British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. to enter national airspace with planes carrying plutonium waste. [2156]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
This Department has not received any representations from European governments in connection with any plans by UK airlines to carry plutonium waste on behalf of British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. through their airspace. Neither, I understand, has the Foreign and Commonwealth Office or the Department of Environment.
Mr. MacShane:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he plans to approve proposals by British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. to fly plutonium waste from the United Kingdom to Europe. [2157]
Ms Jackson:
There are no plans for plutonium waste to be transported by air to, or from, the United Kingdom.
Since 1973 Mixed Oxide (MoX) fuel has been transported from BNFL by air. Currently there are about six flights a year to European destinations. MoX comprises oxides of uranium with a small proportion of plutonium and is carried in ceramic form in packages meeting International Atomic Energy Agency standards. In the unlikely event of an aircraft accident MoX poses no significant risk to public health.
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Mrs. Dunwoody:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many road (a) injuries and (b) fatalities occur each year from the loss of wheels from heavy goods and passenger vehicles; and what research his Department intends to undertake into this issue. [2652]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
Data on the specific causes of accidents are not routinely collected, and therefore figures on the number of fatalities and injuries arising from accidents due to wheel loss are not available.
Following joint discussions with the Vehicle Inspectorate and the Association of Chief Police Officers, a nation-wide survey looking at the extent of the problem of wheel detachment from heavy goods vehicles and passenger vehicles was started in February this year. The survey has recently finished and the results are being analysed. The need for further action will be considered in light of the survey's findings.
The Department is also about to launch an updated leaflet providing guidance on correct maintenance procedures to help reduce incidents of wheel detachment.
Mrs. Dunwoody:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what proposals he has for measures to reduce the incidence of car clocking. [2648]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
The Government deplores the "clocking" of motor vehicles. In 1992, a voluntary mileage recording system, administered by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, was introduced to assist private sector organisations with the compilation of mileage registers which might eventually be made available to the public. Since then, over 10 million mileage figures have been captured.
The question of making the provision of mileages a mandatory requirement of the registration system is currently under review.
Mrs. Dunwoody:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimates his Department has made of (a) the cost to consumers of car clocking and (b) the number of incidents occurring each year. [2649]
Ms Jackson:
The Institute of Trading Standards Administration (ITSA) has calculated that each year profits of around £100 million are made through the clocking of vehicles. This is calculated on the basis that the value of a care increases by an average of £30 for every 1,000 miles taken off the clock.
There are no reliable estimates of the number of cars clocked in the UK each year.
(2) what discussions have taken place between departmental officials and organisations representing persons who live in the community recently identified as the potential site for nuclear waste disposal on the subject of compensation for property blight. [2244]
Where a road needs resurfacing we consider using materials which have beneficial noise properties where it is cost effective and affordable. Account also needs to be taken of the effects on safety, the life expectancy of the surfacing to be used and the condition of the existing road base.
Proposals for resurfacing this section of the M6 are being developed and options for noise reducing surfaces will be given full consideration as part of the preparation for the works. Their timing will depend on the availability of resources.
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