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Gas Safety
Mr. Wigley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what requirements are placed on gas emergency engineers in respect of the carrying of equipment to trace carbon monoxide. [5431]
Angela Eagle: There are no specific requirements. However, the Gas Safety (Management) Regulations 1996 place a duty on gas transporters and/or emergency service providers to attend the scene of a reported gas emergency and make the situation safe. The Regulations also require those undertaking the work to have the necessary skills, competence and hardware to enable them to discharge their duties effectively and safely.
On the broader issue of gas safety, we are determined to support the Health and Safety Commission/Executive in their policy of raising awareness and encouraging tough enforcement where action is necessary. We have asked officials for advice before the autumn on ways in which a higher profile for gas safety can be achieved.
Diesel (Sulphur Content)
Mr. Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he supported moves by the Dutch Government to lower the maximum permissible level of sulphur in diesel from 2000 at the recent Council of European Environment Ministers meeting; and if he will make a statement. [6166]
Angela Eagle: The UK supported the proposal by the Dutch Presidency that diesel fuel containing an indicative level of 50ppm sulphur should be phased in from 2005. This proposal was accepted as part of the Common Position at the Council of European Environment Ministers. The UK also supported proposals for a level of 350ppm sulphur in diesel as a mandatory standard for 2000. This was proposed by the Commission, supported by the Presidency and accepted as part of the Common Position.
Town and City Centres
Mr. Hinchliffe:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to amend planning guidance to local authorities in respect of their management of town and city centres; and if he will make a statement. [5055]
2 Jul 1997 : Column: 187
Mr. Raynsford:
The Government's planning guidance on town centres and retail developments, PPG6, already contains advice on town centre management; we have no current plans to amend it. The Government also provides core funding for the Association of Town Centre Management (ATCM), which has a lead role in the promotion of town centre management. The Government has also provided financial support for three ATCM research projects, two of which I launched on 18 June, "Town Centre Partnerships: A Survey of Good Practice" (undertaken by Hillier Parker and URBED) and "Managing Urban Open Spaces" (undertaken by Chesterton's), and one on "Town Improvement Zones" (undertaken by KPMG) which will report shortly.
Mr. Hinchliffe:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions he has had with local authorities and their associations, concerning the economic viability of town centres, city centres and local markets. [5056]
Mr. Raynsford:
Ministers and officials have regular meetings with the local authority associations, the Association of Town Centre Management and other bodies about town and city centre issues, including their economic wellbeing. I also addressed the Association of Town Centre Management on 18 June and launched two ATCM research projects "Town Centre Partnerships: A survey of Good Practice" (undertaken by Hillier Parker and URBED) and "Managing Urban Open Spaces" (undertaken by Chesterton's), both of which received financial support from the Government.
Mr. Rendel:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the number of houses built by English Partnerships in each year since 1993, by local authority; and if he will make a statement. [5721]
Angela Eagle:
English Partnerships has not built any houses since it was launched in 1993. The Agency cannot, under Section 160(2) of the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993, provide housing itself. It can however, facilitate the construction of housing, both private and social, by others. The amount of housing indirectly created by English Partnerships in this way since it cane into being in November 1993 is as follows:
| Number | |
|---|---|
| 1993-94 (part) | 800 |
| 1994-95 | 2,900 |
| 1995-96 | 4,900 |
| 1996-97 | 5,200 |
Mr. Pearson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 23 June, Official Report, column 378, if he will give a breakdown of English Partnerships' spending in each of the last three financial years by standard planning region as covered by Government offices. [6050]
Angela Eagle:
The information is not readily available. I have asked English Partnerships to write to the hon. Member with the information in due course. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
2 Jul 1997 : Column: 188
Mr. Reed:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the time scale for the creation of the Regional Development Agency for the east midlands. [6219]
Angela Eagle:
I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Morley and Rothwell (Mr. Gunnell) on 11 June, Official Report, column 473, by my hon. Friend the Minister for the Regions, Regeneration and Planning.
Dr. Naysmith:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will be running a further round of the Estates Renewal Challenge Fund; and when he will be inviting local authorities to apply for places on the 1998 Housing Transfer Disposal Programme. [6625]
Ms Armstrong:
I will launch tomorrow Round Three of the Estates Renewal Challenge Fund and invite Local Authorities to apply for places on the 1998 Housing Transfer Disposal Programme. Transfer will remain a voluntary process and will take place only with the consent of tenants and the local authority.
Local authorities should consider housing transfer as one of the options when developing their housing strategy. Transfer can provide an effective and value for money means of getting investment into local authority housing. We want to see transfer delivering a high standard of service for tenants, providing decent and good quality homes.
Bids for money form the Estates Renewal Challenge Fund must also be set firmly within the context of authorities' housing strategies, and I am keen for authorities to package better and poorer quality housing together. This will enable more local authorities to revive and renew their worst estates. The Government is committed to improving standards of living and bringing back the sense of community which is so often lacking in large, poor quality estates.
Mr. Burstow:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to extend the scope of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 to incorporate drivers of minicabs and private hire cars. [5847]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
We currently have no such plans. The public transport vehicles which are included in the Act are essentially those which offer the opportunity for spontaneous travel. Private hire cars are booked in advance, when customers can specify any particular needs they may have. Our priority is to use the powers which are currently provided by the Act to bring forward accessibility regulations for taxis, buses and coaches and rail vehicles. We hope to begin consultation on draft technical specifications in the next few weeks.
2 Jul 1997 : Column: 189
Mr. Edward Davey:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into (i) non-lead fuel lubricants and (ii) XPCL in respect of their effect on fuel consumption; and if he will make a statement. [5975]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
None. Investigation and evaluation of the performance of proprietary fuel additives and non-lead lubricants such as XPCL is not undertaken by the Department.
Mr. Blizzard:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will review the law under which a fine can be imposed for flying the Union Jack on a boat on an inland waterway. [5877]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
To change the law in this manner would require primary legislation. Although there are no current plans to review merchant shipping legislation, we will consider this issue the next time an appropriate opportunity arises.
Mrs. Dunwoody:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will place in the Library a copy of the report compiled by Channel Tunnel Safety Authority Observers attending the BINAT 7 channel tunnel exercise on 7 and 8 October 1995; [5671]
(3) if he will place in the Library a copy of (a) the letter sent on 27 February 1996 by the Channel Tunnel Safety Authority to Eurotunnel regarding the BINAT 7 exercise and (b) Eurotunnel's response. [5672]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
I am not in a position to do so. All three sets of papers contain information supplied by Eurotunnel. Disclosure would be a breach of clause 33 of the Concession Agreement of 1986, covering intellectual property and confidentiality, which includes a requirement on all parties to that Agreement, and also the Intergovernmental Commission and Safety Authority, to hold in confidence all documents and other information supplied to them by, or on behalf of, any other party.
Mrs. Dunwoody:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what were the conclusions of the Channel Tunnel Safety Authority in relation to (a) alerting and activation, (b) delivery of emergency medical response, (c) evacuation of passengers and (d) Eurotunnel management of bi-national emergencies during the BINAT 7 exercise on 7 and 8 October 1995; [5685]
2 Jul 1997 : Column: 190
Ms Jackson:
The Safety Authority letter of 27 February 1996, referred to in paragraph 86 of their Annual Report for 1995-96, is addressed to Eurotunnel and contains the key issues which the Safety Authority wished the Company to address following analysis of the outcome of the BINAT 7 emergency exercise.
(2) if he will place in the Library a copy of the report produced by members of the Public Safety Working Group of the Channel Tunnel Safety Authority who observed the TABLEX II exercise on 19 May 1995; [5686]
(2) if passengers were evacuated within the 90 minute guidance during the BINAT 7 exercise undertaken in the Channel Tunnel on 7 and 8 October 1995. [5673]
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