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La Hague Nuclear Processing Plant

Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what reports he has received from his French counterpart concerning the basis of the ban on fishing and swimming near the La Hague nuclear reprocessing plant; and what guidance on environmental protection has been sought from his Department by the Channel Islands state's authorities as a result of this announcement; [9944]

Angela Eagle: A copy of the monitoring study commissioned by the French Government from the Office de Protection des Rayonnements Ionisants in the vicinity of the La Hague reprocessing plant is being obtained and will be placed in the Library of the House. A small section of beach, approximately 100m long, surrounding a plant discharge pipe, was closed as a precautionary measure while this monitoring was being undertaken and evaluated. My Department has received no request for guidance from the Channel Islands states' authorities concerning these developments.

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Compulsory Competitive Tendering

Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list those councils which have approached his Department since 1 May in relation to the compulsory competitive tendering of local services, indicating those which Ministers have agreed to meet. [9853]

Mr. Raynsford: There have been a very large number of local authority contacts with Ministers and officials in my Department on a range of compulsory competitive tendering issues. These include possible changes to the existing statutory framework for CCT, the development of a best value framework and pilot projects, advice on the technical requirements of existing CCT regulations, requests for exemptions from CCT requirements and casework concerned with anti-competitive behaviour and financial failure.

Ministers in this Department have had no meetings with particular authorities on CCT issues. We have, however, met the Local Government Association on several occasions at which CCT was discussed. My officials have also held meetings with the Local Government Association and have visited a number of local authorities in connection with best value pilot work.

Mr. Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 2 June, Official Report, columns 49-50, on compulsory competitive tendering, what further progress has been made in replacing CCT with a duty of best value; and if he will make a statement. [10603]

Ms Armstrong: Local authorities responded enthusiastically to our 2 June announcement, which confirmed our intention to replace compulsory competitive tendering with a duty to obtain best value, a duty which will require local authorities to deliver the quality of service that local people expect at a price they are willing to pay.

Many authorities have begun work in line with the best value principles published at that time. I now want to build on this work, setting out the proposed framework for best value in England and encouraging local authorities to work towards it consistent with the current legislation. We are therefore writing to all English local authorities inviting them to come forward with proposals to run pilot best value projects and the Home Office will be writing on a similar basis to police authorities. The letter will include the criteria which will be used to evaluate proposals, including the procedures and timetable, and will set the pilot scheme in the context of the framework of best value that we are developing. A copy will be placed in the Library of the House tomorrow morning. In considering bids, we shall be looking to test a wide range of different approaches and services within the best value framework, and to encompass different types of authorities.

Bids will be invited by 1 October, with decisions announced in December, so that local authorities have the maximum amount of time to develop their ideas ahead of a latest start date of 1 April 1998. In coming to a decision on the pilot projects, I expect to draw on advice from a panel made up of representatives from central Government Departments, the Local Government

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Association, the Audit Commission, the trade unions and the private sector. I shall be writing to each shortly to invite nominations.

We are also to consult local authorities and other interested parties on proposals to modify the current CCT regulations and guidance. This follows a short review carried out by a working group comprised of representatives from my Department, the Welsh Office and the Local Government Association.

Our proposals are designed to enable authorities to adopt best value practices consistent with the current primary legislation. They provide a real incentive for authorities to take the voluntary route to competitive tendering, and significantly reduce many of the prescriptive elements of CCT that have so frustrated authorities and the private sector alike. Full details of our proposals are contained in a consultation paper which I am placing in the Library tomorrow morning. At the same time we shall be consulting on revised guidance on good tendering practice which will promote fairness and transparency in procurement decisions, and a draft will also be available in the Library tomorrow.

Taken together, these changes will build on the renewed interest of both local authorities and the private sector in the provision of quality cost-effective local services. They will release both public and private sectors from the sterile exchanges that have bedevilled CCT in recent years, and encourage innovation and best value to the benefit of those who use and pay for local services.

Genetically Modified Organisms

Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) how many monitoring experiments concerning the release of genetically modified organisms and bacteria the Health and Safety Executive has carried out on discharges from laboratories licensed to undertake activity under the Genetically Modified Organisms (Contained Use) Regulations 1992; and if he will list the dates and places of such monitoring; [10213]

Angela Eagle: The Genetically Modified Organisms (Contained Use) Regulations 1992 require that effluent from higher risk GMOs be inactivated prior to discharge. Users have to monitor the effectiveness of this inactivation. So far as low risk GMOs are concerned, the regulations require that suitable control measures are used to limit their contact with the general population and the environment. The effectiveness of these control measures has to be tested and monitored by those undertaking the activities.

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The Health and Safety Executive has not carried out any monitoring experiments. However, HSE specialist inspectors evaluate and discuss monitoring data with users during inspections.

The proposed exemption certificate would allow direct discharge of those untreated liquid wastes containing GMOs which, on the basis of a thorough risk assessment, were judged not to pose a risk of harm to human health and/or the environment. A key factor in this assessment would be that the GMOs were capable of only limited survival in the environment. The conditions attached to the proposed exemption certificate would require compliance with all other provisions of the contained use regulations, including monitoring.

The Advisory Committee on Genetic Modification will shortly be evaluating the outcome of a recent consultation exercise on the proposed exemption certificate. The HSE will then consider its advice before agreeing with relevant Departments--so far as matters relate to the environment--whether the certificate should be issued.

Allotments

Mr. Hawkins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what criteria he will use in the exercise of his powers under the Allotments Act 1925 in respect of the disposal of allotment land or its use for other purposes. [10291]

Angela Eagle: The Secretary of State's consent, under section 8 of the Allotment Act 1925, for the disposal of statutory allotment land will not be given unless he is satisfied that adequate alternative provision is made for any displaced allotment holders, or that such provision is not necessary.

Mr. Hawkins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list his (a) consents and (b) refusals of consent since 2 May under the Allotments Act 1925 for the disposal of allotment land or its use for other purposes. [10317]

Angela Eagle: The Secretary of State has given his consent, under section 8 of the Allotment Act 1925, for disposal of the following statutory allotment sites since 2 May 1997:



















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There have been no refusals of consent under section 8 of the 1925 Act since 2 May.

Mr. Hawkins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will establish a review, involving hon. Members, of the future of allotments. [10318]

Angela Eagle: There are no current plans to undertake a review of allotments.

Mr. Hawkins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what guidance the Government (a) have given and (b) plan to give local authorities concerning the release of more land for allotments. [10319]

Angela Eagle: Local authorities are required, where they are satisfied that there is sufficient demand, to provide an appropriate number of allotment sites to residents within their areas. There are no plans to provide any more specific guidance to local authorities.

Mr. Hawkins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to encourage local authorities and large landowners to release more land for allotments. [10320]

Angela Eagle: The provision of allotment sites is a matter for local authorities, taking into account the demand for sites within their area.

Mr. Hawkins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will take steps to limit the periods during which allotment plots can be left vacant. [10343]

Angela Eagle: Management of allotment sites is a matter for the relevant local authority or parish council, taking into account the demand within the area.

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