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Construction Work (Engineering Contracts)
Mr. Baldry:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what undertakings to the construction industry Her Majesty's Government have given as to the use by Her Majesty's Government of the new engineering contract in construction work. [3428]
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Mr. Raynsford:
Best practice guidance to Government departments on construction procurement lists the NEC Engineering and Construction Contract as one of the standard forms of contract which departments may choose.
Mr. Baldry:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what use his Department is making of the new engineering contract in construction work for which it is responsible. [3430]
Mr. Raynsford:
The NEC Engineering and Construction Contract has not so far been used for construction contracts by the former Departments of the Environment and Transport. An announcement will be made shortly concerning future use of the NEC by the Highways Agency.
Ms Walley:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received in respect of women and sustainable development in preparation for Earth Summit II; and if he will make a statement. [3746]
Angela Eagle:
My Department has received 202 representations on Earth Summit II, many of which covered issues affecting women. The National Federation of Women's Institutes, Soroptimist International and Gender 21 submitted detailed representations on women's issues.
Mr. Campbell-Savours:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the Government will rule out any investigation of site 6 as a location for the disposal of nuclear waste. [3600]
Angela Eagle
[holding answer 16 June 1997]: There are no plans to commence investigations there or elsewhere, nor are there grounds on which to exclude any site from further consideration.
Mr. Campbell-Savours:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the impact of newspaper reports claiming to identify site 6 for the disposal of nuclear waste on the blighting of property in the area identified. [3647]
Angela Eagle
[holding answer 16 June 1997]: Since there are no plans to commence investigations there or elsewhere, I have no wish to comment on the impacts of speculative newspaper reports of this kind.
Mrs. Gillian Shephard:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what geological conditions his Department requires for the underground storage of nuclear waste material; and if these conditions would be satisfied at the Stanta training area near Thetford. [3456]
Angela Eagle
[holding answer 16 June 1997]: It is for the Environment Agencies to decide on a case by case basis whether particular proposals meet the safety requirements for radioactive waste disposal. I have no information about whether these requirements would be met by particular sites.
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Mr. Campbell-Savours:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions whether matters of planning blight have been taken into account in the decision to refuse to reveal the location of site 6. [3601]
Angela Eagle
[holding answer 16 June 1997]: I can confirm that such matters have been taken into account.
Mr. Vaz:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the budget of English Partnerships for 1997-98. [4006]
Angela Eagle:
English Partnership's budget for 1997-98 is £298,779,000 made up of £202,779,000 grant in aid from my Department with the remainder being receipts generated by the Agency. English Partnerships also receive grant-in-aid in respect of work on the Greenwich Peninsula.
Mr. Vaz:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many people were employed by English Partnerships on 6 May. [4005]
Angela Eagle:
The number of permanent and contract staff employed by English Partnerships on 6 May was 383 as follows:
| Region | Number of staff |
|---|---|
| Corporate offices | 96 |
| North-east | 55 |
| North-west | 71 |
| Yorkshire and Humberside | 48 |
| Midlands | 47 |
| South-east | 35 |
| South-west | 31 |
| Total number of staff | 383 |
Wild Boar
Mr. Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the establishment of a feral population of wild boar in the south-west of England; and what plans he has to tighten the licensing procedures for the farming of wild boar. [3922]
Angela Eagle: Whilst there have been anecdotal reports of wild boar in Dorset and Hampshire, I am unaware of any substantiated evidence of a population having become established.
The keeping of wild boar is covered under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 which requires any person keeping a wild boar to obtain a licence from the local authority. I have no plans to change the licensing procedures under the Act.
Business Rates
Mr. Cotter:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to reform business rates, to reduce the burden on small businesses. [3957]
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Mr. Raynsford:
We are aware of the concerns of small businesses regarding non-domestic rates and will take them into account as we develop our policies. We will consult widely before making any changes to the system.
Mr. Welsh:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the average energy efficiency rating for housing in England; and if he will provide a breakdown by (a) local authority, (b) private sector and (c) housing association dwelling, on the latest available estimates. [3307]
Mr. Raynsford:
The latest available estimates (from the 1991 English House Condition Survey) show the average energy efficiency rating for occupied housing in England to be 35, measured on the Government's Standard Assessment Procedure. The average SAP ratings of local authority, private sector and housing association dwellings are 34, 36 and 35 respectively. The figure for private sector dwellings reflects an average of 37 for owner occupied and 22 for private rented dwellings.
Mr. Martlew:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what will be the electoral timetable for those councils which are to be based on changed boundaries following the review of district council bandings. [3650]
Mr. Raynsford:
Changes to shire district ward boundaries, for those districts with a system of whole council elections, are implemented on the first ordinary day of elections after the making of the Order which gives effect to the changes. For those councils that elect by thirds, our practice is to provide in the Order for the holding of whole council elections on the next convenient ordinary day of elections; the changes are implemented on this day and thereafter transitional arrangements provide for a return to the normal electoral cycle.
Mr. Leslie:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to introduce charges for licences issued under the new EU Wildlife Trade Regulation; and if he will make a statement. [4438]
Mr. Meacher:
I have decided that it would be appropriate for businesses and individuals importing or exporting specimens of wildlife species covered by the new EU Wildlife Trade Regulation to make a contribution to the costs of the licensing service operated by my Department. To provide for this, I have laid before Parliament Statutory Instrument No. 1421. This Instrument, which will come into effect on 1 July 1997, will require applicants for import or export licences to pay a fee.
In response to concerns expressed by wildlife traders, the scheme has been modified to ensure that businesses and individuals are not adversely affected by the introduction of fees. Applicants will have to pay only a proportion of the actual costs of processing licence applications. The basic fee will be £10.00 per species for animals, and £7.00 per genus for plants and corals, with a
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discount for larger consignments. Tourists bringing home holiday souvenirs made from controlled species will pay a fee of £5.00.
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