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Nuclear Discharges
Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Great Grimsby (Mr. Mitchell), of 1 July, Official Report, column 128, when he expects the review of policy in respect of the Ospar--Oslo and Paris--convention meeting in September will be completed; and if he will place in the Library a summary of the conclusions of the review on its completion. [9943]
Angela Eagle:
The review of the UK positions on the issues to be discussed within the Ospar commission is to provide guidance for the UK representatives in those
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negotiations. I shall write to my hon. Friend outlining any major changes on which we decide, and will place a copy of the letter in the Library of the House. I do not expect such conclusions to be reached until shortly before the meeting.
Mr. Dawson:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will assess the advantages of imposing a moratorium on local authorities approving new developments at any stage of a local plan process between consultation and public inquiry; and if he will make a statement; [10110]
Mr. Raynsford
[holding answer 22 July 1997]: No. The recently revised planning policy guidance note 1--"General Policy and Principles"--already contains guidelines which are designed to prevent decisions on major planning applications pre-empting decisions that are to be made in the course of an emerging development plan. In particular, it states that, where proposals for a development plan have been published for consultation, it may be justifiable to refuse planning permission on the grounds of prematurity where the proposed development is significant enough to predetermine decisions that are more properly taken in the context of the development plan.
During the development plan process, planning applications should continue to be considered in the light of current policies. However, account can also be taken of policies in emerging development plans which are going through statutory procedures towards adoption. The weight to be attached to such policies depends upon the stage of plan preparation or review, increasing as successive stages are reached. When planning permission is refused on the grounds of prematurity, the planning authority will need to demonstrate clearly how the grant of planning permission would have prejudiced the outcome of the development plan process.
Mr. Burstow:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list for each local authority the (a) rate support grant for 1997-98 and (b) rate support grant for 1998-99 as set out in the 1996 Red Book, HC90, Session 1996-97, and adjusted by the Budget statement of 2 July applying the distribution methodology used in the 1997-98 settlement and showing the percentage change between (a) and (b). [9595]
Mr. Raynsford:
Revenue support grant for each local authority for 1997-98 was set out in tables published by my Department on 27 January this year; they are available in the Library. No decision has yet been made on the level of revenue support grant for 1998-99.
Miss Melanie Johnson:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on his Department's policy
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towards the EU landfill directive, EC draft 6692/97; and when he expects the explanatory memorandum will be published. [9916]
Angela Eagle:
A draft directive was published on 5 March. An interim explanatory memorandum was produced on 15 April. A full explanatory memorandum will be supplied to the scrutiny committees in the next few days.
The Government welcome the draft directive's main objectives: the stringent application of high environmental standards across Europe, and a reduction in methane emissions from landfill sites. However, the draft directive also contains proposals, including one for limits on the landfilling of biodegradable waste, which imply a substantial change in UK waste management practice. It is of particular concern, therefore, that there has been no detailed assessment by the Commission of the cost implications for those member states which, like the UK, have a heavy reliance at present on landfill as a means of disposal.
The Government would prefer that the directive focus more on the shared objective of reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, and less on prescribing detailed means to achieve that end. The Government will also be keen to ensure that rules on landfill management are stringent and are evenly applied across Europe, and that the directive does not hamper efforts to improve sustainability of waste management in this country.
Mr. Bercow:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will ensure that copies of future consultation documents from his Department are distributed to all (a) county, (b) district, (c) borough and (d) town council offices and to all public libraries. [10242]
Angela Eagle:
Copies of consultation documents from my Department are distributed to authorities, organisations and individuals which are most appropriate to the policy issues involved. The aim is to achieve the widest consultation while minimising the administrative burden and potential waste which would arise from automatic distribution to some 1,800 locations.
Consultation documents are, however, also publicised by press notice, on the Internet, through the publications lists of the departmental library and, for Command Papers, The Stationery Office. Individual copies are available on request from the Department's dispatch centres and, where appropriate, the Stationery Office bookshops.
Mr. Quinn:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the progress of English Partnerships. [10478]
Mr. Caborn:
I have today laid before Parliament English Partnerships' annual report and accounts for 1996-97, which set out their achievements last year. The report provides details of the agency's £235 million development programme and illustrates, from the 2,700
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currently in progress, 40 projects spread across the English regions. The agency's key outputs for 1996-97 are as follows:
(2) if he will assess the advantages of imposing a moratorium on planning decisions pertinent to district-wide local plans at any stage prior to public inquiry; and if he will make a statement. [10111]
| Number | |
|---|---|
| Jobs created/safeguarded | 24,200 |
| Land regenerated (hectares) | 1,100 |
| Housing units facilitated | 5,200 |
| Commercial/industrial floorspace developed (sq m) | 910,000 |
| Private finance attracted (£ million) | 630 |
| Lettings to new tenants | 925 |
Copies of the annual report will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
Air Services
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the estimated overspill of passenger demand in relation to runway and terminal capacity at (a) Heathrow, (b) Gatwick and (c) Stansted in (i) 2005, (ii) 2010 and (iii) 2015 on the basis of his Department's forecasts of air traffic. [10069]
Ms Glenda Jackson: The Department's air traffic forecasts for the United Kingdom 1997 estimate passenger demand at London area airports as a whole to be 124 million in 2005, 153 million in 2010 and 184 million in 2015. The forecasts show that the London area airports taken together do not reach their assumed capacity until 2015. My Department does not produce forecasts for individual airports.
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the proportion of scheduled passengers arriving at Heathrow and Gatwick in (a) 1986 and (b) 1996 who were making immediate onward connections by air. [10081]
Ms Jackson: Figures are not available for 1986, but are for 1987. The proportion of total passengers making immediate onward connections by air at Heathrow airport in 1987 was 22.1 per cent. In 1996, it was 32.8 per cent. Of total passengers at Gatwick in 1987, 8.8 per cent. were making onward connections by air. In 1996, this proportion had risen to 17.3 per cent.
Birmingham Airport
Mr. John M. Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the ownership and value of the local authorities' 49 per cent. shareholding in Birmingham airport; and if he will encourage the local authorities concerned to reduce their stake. [9603]
Dr. Strang: No. This Government do not have a doctrinaire approach to the ownership of airports, and we see no reason to interfere with the arrangements which were entered into by the west midlands local authorities in March.
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