---

Natural Heritage Designations Review

Mrs. Ray Michie: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the outcome of the natural heritage designations review discussion paper.[3823]

27 Jun 1997 : Column: 667

Mr. Chisholm [holding answer 23 June 1997]: We have received almost 80 responses to the discussion paper published last year following the Review of Natural Heritage Designations. Many of these responses are of considerable length and include detailed comments on the issues raised in the discussion paper. We are currently giving careful consideration to all the points made by respondents before taking decisions on the need for changes to the present system of land-based natural heritage designations in use in Scotland.

Drugs

Mr. Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list by type of drug the number of persons for each

27 Jun 1997 : Column: 668

police authority (a) cautioned, (b) proceeded against in a magistrates court and (c) tried at the Crown court for possession of a proscribed drug in (i) 1994, (ii) 1995 and (iii) the last 12 month period for which figures are available.[4791]

Mr. McLeish [holding answer 19 June 1997]: Formal police cautions are not used in Scotland. Details of the number of persons proceeded against in all courts and the number proceeded against in solemn courts for possession of a controlled drug in 1994 and 1995 by type of drug and police force area are given in the tables below. Information is not available on the number of trials for persons proceeded against in solemn courts. Data for 1996 will not be available until the late autumn.

27 Jun 1997 : Column: 667

Number of persons proceeded against for possession of drugs by type of drugs offence and police force

Police force	All drugs(3)	Cocaine	Heroin	LSD	MDMA	Methadone	Amphetamines	Cannabis	Other
Number of persons proceeded against in all courts (1994)
Central	316	0	2	13	3	0	35	284	7
Dumfries and Galloway	183	0	3	10	1	0	29	146	14
Fife	176	0	0	1	0	0	18	167	3
Grampian	679	1	19	25	21	2	103	583	17
Lothian and Borders	809	4	2	43	31	4	153	648	60
Northern	199	0	2	2	2	0	24	182	2
Strathclyde	2,076	13	91	69	37	7	262	1,703	96
Tayside	366	0	0	13	12	2	53	325	24
Scotland	4,804	18	119	176	107	15	677	4,038	223
Persons proceeded against in solemn courts (1994)
Central	23	0	1	4	1	0	5	20	0
Dumfries and Galloway	5	0	0	2	0	0	1	4	2
Fife	7	0	0	0	0	0	4	7	0
Grampian	26	0	4	6	4	0	5	17	2
Lothian and Borders	40	4	0	11	5	1	15	22	11
Northern	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
Strathclyde	133	4	19	12	7	2	27	79	10
Tayside	17	0	0	3	3	0	8	14	2
Scotland	253	8	24	38	20	3	65	165	27
Persons proceeded against in all courts (1995)
Central	163	1	2	6	2	0	15	146	4
Dumfries and Galloway	156	0	4	2	1	0	22	139	6
Fife	262	0	4	4	10	0	36	237	2
Grampian	808	8	34	20	34	2	136	674	45
Lothian and Borders	149	0	0	3	5	0	6	140	3
Northern	126	0	0	2	1	0	12	113	2
Strathclyde	2,389	11	155	47	87	11	326	1,913	87
Tayside	264	0	5	2	11	2	42	226	12
Scotland	4,317	20	204	86	151	15	595	3,588	161
Persons proceeded against in solemn courts (1995)
Central	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	0
Dumfries and Galloway	7	0	0	0	0	0	1	7	1
Fife	6	0	1	0	0	0	1	5	0
Grampian	17	1	2	1	3	0	7	12	2
Lothian and Borders	6	0	0	0	4	0	0	4	0
Northern	3	0	0	1	0	0	3	1	0
Strathclyde	118	3	23	12	11	3	25	66	15
Tayside	15	0	4	1	3	2	3	12	3
Scotland	176	4	30	15	21	5	40	111	21

Note:

(3) Columns cannot be added together since a person may be dealt with for more than one type of drug.

Source:

Home Office Research and Statistics Directorate.

27 Jun 1997 : Column: 667

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

Green Belt Policy

Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if

27 Jun 1997 : Column: 668

he will make a statement regarding his Department's policy towards building on land designated as Green Belt.[5606]

Mr. Raynsford: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Leicester, East (Mr. Vaz) on 22 May 1997, Official Report, column 152.

27 Jun 1997 : Column: 669

Biotech Companies (Liquid Waste)

Mr. Pickthall: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions he has had with the Advisory Committee for Genetic Modification about its consideration of allowing direct discharge of untreated liquid wastes from biotech companies into the environment. [5647]

Angela Eagle: The Health and Safety Commission's Advisory Committee on Genetic Modification (ACGM) is currently considering, in consultation with interested bodies, the matter of direct discharge of those untreated liquid wastes which are judged, on the basis of thorough risk assessment, not to pose a risk of harm to the environment. This matter is covered by the Genetically Modified Organisms (Contained Use) Regulations 1992, as amended in 1996. The Health and Safety Executive enforces these Regulations and will consider ACGM's advice before agreeing with the relevant Departments (so far as matters relate to the environment) the best way to proceed.

Water Companies (Investment)

Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what has been the proportion of water service companies' total capital investment in (a) water leakage reduction, (b) renewal of mains water supply pipes, (c) sewage treatment and (d) replacement of public sewers in each of the past three years. [5154]

Angela Eagle: Information on total capital expenditure in sewage treatment and maintenance of mains water supply pipes and public sewers, generally referred to as maintenance of underground assets, is published in summary in OFWAT's annual reports on the "Financial Performance and Capital Investment of the Water Companies in England and Wales". Copies of these reports are available in the Library.

Specific figures for expenditure on leakage reduction are not available, as spending on leakage is allocated across a number of expenditure headings in the water companies' July Returns to OFWAT. These returns give details of the companies' regulated activities, service to customers and expenditure on both capital investment and operating costs in the previous year. Copies of these returns are available in the Library.

Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what investment was made by Severn Trent plc in (i) 1994, (ii) 1995 and (iii) 1996 in (a) replacement and renewal of main water supply pipes and (b) replacement and renewal of public sewers. [5153]

Angela Eagle: Information on individual water companies' investment in the maintenance of water supply pipes and public sewers, generally referred to as maintenance of underground assets, is published in OFWAT's annual reports on the "Financial Performance and Capital Investment of the Water Companies in England and Wales". Copies of these reports are available in the Library.

27 Jun 1997 : Column: 670

Council Tax

Mr. Blizzard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to make changes to council tax band differentials.[5282]

Mr. Raynsford: The question of whether any changes should be made to the ratios between council tax bands is one that the Government will wish to discuss with the Local Government Association and others before reaching a view.

Water Charges

Mr. Desmond Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to reduce the variation in charges levied for water supply by different water supply companies, with special reference to variations within the same geographical areas. [5267]

Angela Eagle: Water charges levied by individual water companies are a matter for the Director General of Water Services, who is responsible for setting price limits for water and sewerage services.

The Director General is currently conducting a periodic review of price limits which will set the framework for charges from 1 April 2000.

Light Pollution

Mr. Fearn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is his policy in respect of light pollution in rural areas. [5302]

Angela Eagle: The Government believes that the intrusiveness of lighting in rural areas should be kept to a minimum and that problems that may arise from artificial lighting are most appropriately dealt with by raising public awareness and by providing guidance on how these prolems might be mitigated.

These issues and the wider ranging concerns of light pollution are now being considered by my officials.

---