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Plastic Silage Wrap
Mr. David Heath: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to encourage local waste disposal authorities to provide for the safe disposal of black silage bag plastic.[9991]
Angela Eagle [holding answer 25 July 1997]: Waste disposal authorities, under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, have a duty to arrange for the disposal of controlled waste collected in their area by waste collection authorities. Authorities do not, however, have a duty to dispose of waste from premises used for agriculture. Farmers, as producers of such waste, should aim to recover or reuse such waste where possible or arrange for it to be disposed of at a licensed waste facility. We are considering whether further legal controls are necessary to ensure that waste producers manage their waste responsibly and dispose of it sensibly. Currently, general guidance is provided to farmers in codes of good agricultural practice for the protection of air and soil, and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has recently invited bids for a project to develop and test a manual to help farmers minimise waste, including silage bag plastic.
EU Environmental Proposals
Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what changes he expects to introduce to his Department's monitoring of environmental proposals developed by the European Commission following the Commission's announcement on 11 July of a new set of guidelines to strengthen the environmental content of Commission proposals. [10618]
Angela Eagle
[holding answer 25 July 1997]: I strongly welcome the strengthening of its internal procedures announced by the European Commission on 11 July, so that environmental considerations are better integrated into the whole range of its policy proposals. Consideration of every Commission proposal is coordinated by the Government Department most closely concerned, to ensure that its implications are assessed against the entire range of Government policies and objectives, including those for protection of the environment. We will keep the impact of the Commission's new measures under review, and will consider whether any further action is necessary.
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Mr. Yeo:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what research he has commissioned into the use of tradeable quotas as a means of reducing carbon dioxide emissions;[10627]
(3) what discussions he has held with the European Commission about the use of tradeable quotas as a means of reducing carbon dioxide emissions. [10626]
Mr. Meacher:
As part of our preparations for the negotiations leading to the climate change convention conference in Kyoto in December, the potential for the use of tradeable quotas as a means of meeting targets in the period after 2000 is being examined within Government and discussed with interested non- governmental organisations, including industry, and other member states of the European Union and the Commission.
Mr. Dawson:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will bring forward new policies to manage household growth; and if he will make a statement; [10819]
Mr. Raynsford:
We are considering the responses to the consultation on last year's Green Paper on this issue, in helping us to decide on the right way forward. We will consider my hon. Friend's points as part of that process.
Mr. Tyler:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the safety of methyl bromide. [10966]
Angela Eagle:
Methyl bromide is a toxic substance. Its use at work is controlled under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1994. Specific pesticidal use as a fumigant is further controlled under the Control of Pesticides Regulations 1986. The Health and Safety Executive has issued an approved code of practice on the control of substance hazardous to health in fumigation operations as well as guidance on fumigation. Methyl
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bromide causes depletion of the ozone layer and is a controlled substances under the Montreal protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the President of the Council how many representations she has received from hon. Members concerning the opportunity to put oral questions to the Minister without Portfolio. [10775]
Mr. Baker:
To ask the President of the Council what proposals she has to allow hon. Members to put oral questions to the Minister without Portfolio regarding his duties and responsibilities other that those relating to the millennium dome. [10776]
(2) what representations he has received on the use of tradeable quotas as a means of reducing carbon dioxide emissions; [10625]
(2) if he will give (a) environmental capacity, (b) housing need, (c) the provision of smaller homes and (d) the involvement of local communities in planning decisions priority in developing his policies for managing household growth. [10820]
Regional Development Agencies
Sir Sydney Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the relationship between training and enterprise councils and business links following the Government's proposals to create regional development agencies. [10646]
Mr. Andrew Smith: The Government are consulting on arrangements for establishing regional development agencies. The consultation period will end on 12 September. The implications of the creation of RDAs on the relationship between training and enterprise councils and business links will become clear only after these consultations have been completed and decisions on the role and structure of RDAs agreed.
New Deal
Dr. Vis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the areas where the new deal for people aged 18 to 24 years who have been unemployed for six months will start from January 1998.[11395]
Mr. Andrew Smith:
From 5 January 1998, the new deal for young unemployed people will be introduced in 12 pathfinder areas covering 15 per cent. of 18 to 24-year-olds unemployed for more than six months. Experience in the pathfinder areas will inform national implementation, which will start on 6 April 1998 and help ensure its success. The pathfinder areas are listed in the table. They have been selected to reflect a range of social and economic areas and so that there is at least one pathfinder in each English region and in Scotland and Wales.
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Mr. Dawson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what action he proposes to take to ensure that young people in care and who have left local authority care are included in his welfare-to-work programmes. [10817]
Mr. Alan Howarth:
All young people aged 18 to 24 who are unemployed for six months or more are eligible for the new deal. We are currently considering whether we should allow early access to the new deal for certain groups.
Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what guidelines and controls exist regarding the issuing of medication within schools; and if he will make a statement. [10540]
Ms Estelle Morris:
The Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974 places duties on employers, usually the local education authority or governing body in schools, for the health and safety of their employees and anyone else on the premises. Employers are responsible for ensuring the safety of all pupils, and schools must have a written health and safety policy.
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