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Waste Imports and Exports
Mr. William Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what have been the amounts of waste (a) exported from Northern Ireland to (i) the Irish Republic and (ii) Great Britain and (b) imported form the Irish Republic to Northern Ireland; if he will indicate (1) the tonnages by categories and (2) the descriptions used in each of the last three years; and what are the estimates for (X) the current year and (Y) the next two years. [7150]
Mr. Paul Murphy: Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Environment and Heritage Service under its Chief Executive, Mr. Robert C. Martin. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given. Letter from Robert C. Martin to Mr. William Ross, dated 7 July 1997:
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your Question about the import and export of waste.
The information is not held centrally and indeed district councils, the enforcement authorities for waste management in Northern Ireland, only collate statistics of movements of 'Special Waste' as defined.
I am sorry that I cannot be more helpful.
WALES
Conservation (Cardigan Bay)
Mr. Dafis: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he will make a statement on the objectives for the Cardigan Bay special area of conservation. [5851]
Mr. Win Griffiths: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 26 June 1997, column 626.
Housing Needs (Women)
Mr. Wigley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what role he plans for housing associations in Wales to meet the specific and special housing needs of women in
7 Jul 1997 : Column: 356
Wales; what assessment he has made of the adequacy of Tai Cymru's plans for meeting these needs in its strategic programmes; and if he will make a statement. [5835]
Mr. Win Griffiths:
It is for local authorities to assess and specify the varying needs within their areas in the annual housing strategy and operational plans. With effect from 1997-98, the developments funded out of Tai Cymru's capital programme have been determined by reference to each local authority's plan rather than by formula (Housing Needs Index) as in past years. Moneys from Tai Cymru also support the running costs of women's refuges.
Mr. Alan Williams:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which journalists were present at the meeting with him on which David Rose's article of 16 May in the Daily Post was based. [7069]
Mr. Ron Davies:
It is not my normal practice to release details of meetings held on Lobby terms between Ministers and journalists.
Mr. Wigley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will issue guidelines to local authorities in Wales with regard to the need to ensure the safety of swimmers on bathing beaches from the dangers caused by (a) jet skis and (b) other fast pleasure boats; and if he will make a statement. [6952]
Mr. Win Griffiths:
My right hon. Friend has no immediate plans to issue such guidelines. Local authorities have powers under section 76 of the Public Health Act 1961 to regulate seaside pleasure boats for the prevention of danger, obstruction or annoyance to persons bathing in the sea or using the seashore, and for the prevention and suppression of nuisances. An inter-departmental working party is undertaking a review of byelaw powers for the coast, and a discussion paper was issued in Wales in February 1997, in parallel with a similar exercise in England. We shall be considering whether existing powers are adequate as part of this review.
Mr. Keetch:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish his Department's submissions relating to freedom of information legislation. [6038]
Mr. Ron Davies
[holding answer 2 July 1997]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on Friday 4 July, Official Report, column 294.